Transformable tray and tray system for receiving, transporting and unloading items

ABSTRACT

Features for loading, transporting and unloading of items are disclosed. Systems, devices and methods for such operations using a tray are described. In some embodiments, a tray having a moveable bottom allows for switching between a configuration for loading and unloading items in and out of the tray and a configuration for transportation of items inside the tray. The trays may also be stacked, for transportation of multiple trays at once, and nested, for saving space when storing the trays. In some embodiments, the trays may be used in conjunction with loading and unloading systems.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

Any and all applications, for which a foreign or domestic priority claimis identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the presentapplication, are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.This application is a divisional of U.S. application U.S. Ser. No.16/132,178, filed Sep. 14, 2018, which in turn is a divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/869,843, filed Sep. 29, 2015, which claims thebenefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/058,407, filed on Oct. 1, 2014, and entitled“TRANSFORMABLE TRAY AND TRAY SYSTEM FOR RECEIVING, TRANSPORTING ANDUNLOADING ITEMS,” the entire disclosures of which is incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND Field

This application relates to the field of processing, transporting andsorting items. More specifically, this application relates to a tray foruse with a tray loader and unloader system for use in processing andsorting items.

Description of the Related Art

In many industrial concerns, convenient handling of large numbers ofitems is crucial. For example, many items must be received, transportedand unloaded for processing or sorting in processing equipment. Someoperations involve thousands or millions of items handled daily. Itemsintended for processing or sorting in processing equipment can becontained in trays or other containers. Items are typically loaded intoor unloaded from the processing equipment into trays, which can be timeconsuming and inefficient if the tray and equipment are not designed toallow easy and efficient loading and unloading of the items between thetray and the various systems.

As an example, mail delivery operations may involve receiving, loading,transporting and unloading thousands of pieces of mail daily. The highvolume of mail items means more time spent on these and other processes.Poorly designed systems and components that require inconvenient andtime intensive movement of items lead to processing inefficiencies witheach item that add up to significant losses of time over the course ofday or year.

This is merely one example of an industrial concern that relies onsorting and receiving high volumes of items. Others may include, but arenot limited to, retail concerns with large inventories and high dailysales, high volume component manufacturers such as consumer goods, andimporting concerns with high volume imports needing sorting andreceiving daily.

There is therefore a need for improved systems, devices and methods thatallow for efficient and convenient loading, transporting and unloadingof high volumes of items to and from associated processing equipment.

SUMMARY

The embodiments disclosed herein each have several aspects no single oneof which is solely responsible for the disclosure's desirableattributes. Without limiting the scope of this disclosure, its moreprominent features will now be briefly discussed. After considering thisdiscussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled“Detailed Description of Certain Embodiments,” one will understand howthe features of the embodiments described herein provide advantages overexisting systems, devices and methods for receiving items.

In a first aspect, a tray for receiving an item is disclosed. The traycomprises a sidewall having at least a front side, the sidewall having atop portion and a bottom portion and defining an internal cavity. Thetray further comprises a moveable bottom having a top surface, a bottomsurface, a front end and a back end, wherein the front end is moveablycoupled with the front side of the sidewall such that the front end ofthe moveable bottom can move up and down along the front side of thesidewall. A bottom side of the tray is coupled with at least part of thebottom portion of the sidewall and is configured to support the moveablebottom. The moveable bottom is configured to move between a firstposition and a second position. In the first position, the front end ofthe moveable bottom is positioned at the top portion of the front sideof the sidewall, such that the item may slide into or out of the cavityalong the top surface of the moveable bottom. In the second position,the front end of the moveable bottom is positioned at the bottom portionof the front side of the sidewall.

In some embodiments, the moveable bottom is configured to move betweenthe first position and the second position by sliding along the frontside of the sidewall. In some embodiments, the first position is forloading and unloading the item into and out of the cavity, respectively.In some embodiments, the second position is for transporting the itemwithin the cavity.

In some embodiments, the bottom side of the tray defines a window thatprovides access to the bottom surface of the moveable bottom.

In some embodiments, the front side of the sidewall comprises a trackconfigured to receive at least part of the front end of the moveablebottom, wherein the track couples the moveable bottom with the frontside of the sidewall.

In some embodiments, the front end of the moveable bottom comprises aprojection, and the track is configured to receive the projection. Insome embodiments, the track extends partially into the cavity anddefines a slot configured to receive the projection. In someembodiments, the moveable bottom is configured to move between the firstposition and the second position by sliding the projection along thetrack. In some embodiments, the projection is a pin. The moveable bottomcan be configured to move between the first position and the secondposition by sliding the pin within the slot. In some embodiments, thefront side of the sidewall comprises a second track defining a secondslot configured to receive a second projection of the front end of themoveable bottom, and wherein the moveable bottom is further configuredto move between the first position and the second position by slidingthe second pin within the second slot.

In some embodiments, the bottom side defines a window that providesaccess to the bottom surface of the moveable bottom, and the moveablebottom is configured to move between the first and second positions bylowering and raising the tray relative to an arm that is separate fromthe tray such that the arm extends through the window and contacts themoveable bottom. In the first position, the moveable bottom may beangled with respect to a plane defined by a bottom edge of the sidewall.In the second position, the moveable bottom may be substantiallyparallel with respect to a plane defined by a bottom edge of thesidewall.

In some embodiments, the moveable bottom further comprises a centerportion and a plurality of side portions coupled with the centerportion. The center portion and the plurality of side portions define achannel for receiving the item.

In some embodiments, the sidewall further comprises a first sidecomprising top and bottom portions and a second side opposite the firstside and comprising top and bottom portions. The top portions of thefirst and second sides each may define a plurality of recesses and aplurality of pockets along interior faces of the first and second sides.The bottom portions of the first and second sides each may comprise aplurality of feet along exterior faces of the first and second sides.The tray may be configured to be stacked on top of a second tray havinga plurality of recesses by aligning the feet of the tray with theplurality of recesses of the second tray. In some embodiments, the trayis configured to be nested with a second tray, such that the second trayat least partially receives the tray, by rotating the tray relative tothe second tray to align the feet of the tray with the plurality ofpockets of the second tray and then receiving the feet of the tray atleast partially within the pockets. In some embodiments, the feet of thetray are aligned with the plurality of pockets of the second tray byrotating the tray relative to the second tray. The feet of the tray maybe aligned with the plurality of pockets of the second tray by rotatingthe tray 180° relative to the second tray.

In some embodiments, the moveable bottom has at least one end portioncoupled with the back end of the moveable bottom, with the at least oneend portion defining at least one space adjacent to the at least one endportion. The at least one end portion and the at least one space maydefine a comb-like configuration at the back end of the moveable bottomconfigured to receive in the at least one space a complementary shapedarm for removing the item from the tray. In some embodiments, the atleast one end portion does not contact a back side of the tray when themoveable bottom is in the second position. In some embodiments, themoveable bottom has at least one spacer tab extending from the back endof the moveable bottom, with the at least one spacer tab configured toprevent the at least one end portion from contacting a back side of thetray when the moveable bottom is in the second position.

In another aspect, a system for loading an item is disclosed. The systemmay include a loader comprising a loading shelf, the loading shelf beingattached to the loader at an exit point of the loader, and a carriagemoveably disposed along a portion of the loader, the carriage configuredto support a tray, the tray having a bottom side, a moveable bottom anda sidewall comprising a front side, the moveable bottom configured tomove between a first position for loading the item into the tray bysliding the item onto the moveable bottom and a second position fortransporting the item within the tray. The loading shelf may bepositioned to span a distance between the exit point of the loader andthe tray positioned on the carriage. The moveable bottom of the tray mayform a surface with the loading shelf such that the item can slide alongthe loading shelf and onto the moveable bottom.

In some embodiments, the bottom side defines a window that providesaccess to a bottom surface of the moveable bottom, and wherein themoveable bottom is configured to move between the first and secondpositions by lowering and raising the tray over an arm coupled with thecarriage such that the arm contacts the moveable bottom through thewindow.

In some embodiments, the loader further comprises an elongated railalong an edge of the loading shelf with which the front side of the trayis configured to couple when the carriage is adjacent to the loader, andthe carriage with the tray mounted thereto is configured to move alongthe rail.

In some embodiments, the loader further comprises an edge support havinga plurality of notches configured to couple with at least one of thecarriage and the tray and thereby prevent the carriage from moving alongthe rail.

In some embodiments, the loader further comprises a plurality of binseach comprising a loading shelf and configured to provide the item to beloaded into the tray, wherein the tray is configured to move among theplurality of bins by moving the carriage along a length of the loadingshelf.

In some embodiments, the loader further comprises an elongated rail withwhich the front side of the tray couples when the carriage is adjacentto the loader, wherein the tray is configured to move among theplurality of bins by moving the carriage with the tray mounted theretoalong the rail. The loader may further comprise an edge support having aplurality of notches configured to couple with the tray and prevent thetray and the carriage from moving along the rail.

In another aspect, a system for unloading an item from a tray isdisclosed. The system comprises a tray support, at least one elongatedarm coupled with and extending from the tray support, a tray mountcoupled with the tray support and having a surface configured to receivethe tray thereon, where the tray mount defines at least one openingextending therethrough, and the at least one opening is configured toreceive therethrough the at least one arm, and the tray. In someembodiments, the tray has a moveable bottom, a bottom side defining awindow that provides access to the moveable bottom, and a sidewallcomprising a front side, where the moveable bottom is configured to movebetween a first position for unloading the item from the tray by slidingthe item along the moveable bottom and a second position fortransporting the item within the tray. When the tray moves relative tothe at least one arm along a first direction that is perpendicular tothe surface of the tray mount, the at least one arm extends through thewindow of the tray and through the at least one opening of the traymount to cause the moveable bottom to move from the second position tothe first position.

In some embodiments, the at least one arm is configured to move in thefirst direction. In some embodiments, the tray mount is configured tomove in the first direction. In some embodiments, the tray mount isstationary and the at least one arm is configured to move in the firstdirection. In some embodiments, the at least one arm is stationary andthe tray mount is configured to move in the first direction. In someembodiments, the tray mount is configured to lower over the at least onearm. In some embodiments, when the tray moves relative to the at leastone arm along the first direction, the at least one arm extends throughthe window of the tray and through the at least one opening of the traymount and contacts the moveable bottom to cause the moveable bottom tomove from the second position to the first position.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises a second elongated armcoupled with and extending from the tray support, where the tray mountdefines a second opening extending therethrough, and where the secondopening is configured to receive therethrough the second arm.

In some embodiments, in the first position, the moveable bottom iscoupled with a top portion of the tray such that the moveable bottomforms a continuous surface with an unloading surface of the system suchthat the item may be removed from the tray by sliding the item from themoveable bottom and onto the unloading surface.

In some embodiments, in the first position, the bottom side of the trayis angled with respect to the unloading surface and the movable bottomis angled with respect to the bottom side of the tray. In someembodiments, the system further comprises a side tray mount that isperpendicular to the tray mount, where, in the first position, the traymount and side tray mount are angled with respect to horizontal andvertical directions and are positioned such that the tray, when placedon the tray mount, is forced by gravity toward the side tray mount.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises at least one grippercoupled to a track and configured to translate along the track tothereby slide the item out of the tray and onto the unloading surfacewhen the tray is in the first position.

In some embodiments, the system for unloading an item from a traycomprises the tray and an unloader. The tray may have a bottom side, amoveable bottom and a sidewall comprising a front side, with themoveable bottom configured to move between a first position forunloading the item from the tray by sliding the item along the moveablebottom and a second position for transporting the item within the tray.The unloader may comprise a mount configured to support the tray and anunloading surface configured to have the item slide thereon from themoveable bottom of the tray. When the tray is supported on the mount andthe moveable bottom is in the first position, the moveable bottom mayform a continuous surface with the unloading surface such that the itemcan slide along the continuous surface from the moveable bottom and ontothe unloading surface. When the tray is supported on the mount and themoveable bottom is in the first position, the sidewall may be angledwith respect to the unloading surface such that the continuous surfaceis substantially planar.

In some embodiments, the bottom side defines a window that providesaccess to a bottom surface of the moveable bottom, and the moveablebottom is configured to move between the first and second positions bylowering and raising the tray over an arm coupled with the mount, withthe arm configured to contact the moveable bottom through the window. Insome embodiments, the arm is configured to move the moveable bottom tothe first position by extending through an opening in the mount as thetray is lowered over the arm and thereby pushing a front end of themoveable bottom in an upward direction.

In some embodiments, the mount comprises a second arm configured toangle the sidewall with respect to the unloading surface by extendingthrough an opening in the mount as the tray is lowered over the arm andthereby pushing the sidewall in an upward direction such that thesidewall is angled with respect to the unloading surface and thecontinuous surface is substantially planar.

In some embodiments, the arm is configured to allow the moveable bottomto move to the second position when the tray is raised over the arm,thereby allowing a front end of the moveable bottom to move in a firstdownward direction, and the second arm is configured to allow thesidewall to move in a second downward direction when the tray is raisedover the second arm.

In another aspect, a method for loading a tray is disclosed. The methodcomprises positioning an item on a loading shelf, positioning a sidewallof the tray at an angle with respect to the loading shelf, moving amoveable bottom of the tray to a first position such that the moveablebottom and the loading shelf form a continuous surface, sliding the itemalong the continuous surface from the loading shelf and onto themoveable bottom, and moving the moveable bottom to a second positioninside a cavity defined by a sidewall of the tray such that the moveablebottom is adjacent to a bottom side of the tray.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises positioning a sidewallof the tray at an angle with respect to an unloading surface, moving themoveable bottom to the first position such that the moveable bottom andthe unloading surface form a second continuous surface, and sliding theitem along the second continuous surface from the moveable bottom andonto the unloading surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will becomemore fully apparent from the following description and appended claims,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding thatthese drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with thedisclosure and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, thedisclosure will be described with additional specificity and detailthrough use of the accompanying drawings. In the following detaileddescription, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forma part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identifysimilar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrativeembodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claimsare not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, andother changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood thatthe aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein,and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined,and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of whichare explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a loading system forloading items from a stacker.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of part of the stacker from FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tray, having anembodiment of a moveable bottom oriented in a first position, that maybe used with the stacker of FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of another embodiment of a tray, havinganother embodiment of a moveable bottom oriented in a first position,that may be used with the stacker of FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the tray of FIG. 2B with the moveablebottom oriented in a second position.

FIG. 2D is a perspective view of the tray of FIG. 2B without themoveable bottom.

FIG. 2E is a top view of the tray of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2F is a bottom view of the tray of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2G is a right side view of the tray of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2H is an end view of the tray of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2I is a cross section view of the tray of FIG. 2B as taken alongthe line 2I-2I as indicated in FIG. 2E, where the moveable bottom isoriented in the first position.

FIG. 2J is a detail view of the cross section of the tray taken from thearea 2J as indicated in FIG. 2I.

FIG. 2K is a cross section view of the tray of FIG. 2B as taken alongthe line 2I-2I as indicated in FIG. 2E, where the moveable bottom isoriented in the second position.

FIG. 2L-2O are various views of a bracket that may be used with the trayof FIGS. 2A-2J.

FIG. 2P is a top view of the moveable bottom of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2Q is a side view of several trays in nested and stackedconfigurations.

FIG. 2R is side cross section view of the several trays of FIG. 2Q.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the tray of FIG. 2A supported on anembodiment of a carriage and interfaced with an embodiment of a loadingsurface.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the interface of FIG. 3A between the carriagesupporting the tray and the loading surface.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an embodiment of an unloading systemfor unloading items from the tray of FIGS. 2A-2K.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the unloading system of FIG. 4Ainterfaced with the tray of FIGS. 2A-2K.

FIGS. 4C-4D are perspective views of another embodiment of an unloadingsystem for unloading items from the tray of FIGS. 2A-2K.

FIGS. 5A-5B are side cross section views of the tray mounted on anunloading system showing the moveable bottom in first and secondpositions.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a method for loading oneor more items into a tray.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a method for unloadingone or more items from a tray.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a tray, havinganother embodiment of a moveable bottom oriented in a first position,that may be used with the loading and unloading systems describedherein.

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the tray of FIG. 8A with the moveablebottom oriented in the second position.

FIG. 8C is a perspective view of a moveable bottom, having a comb-likeend configuration, that may be used with the various trays describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is directed to certain specificembodiments of the development. In this description, reference is madeto the drawings wherein like parts or steps may be designated with likenumerals throughout for clarity. Reference in this specification to “oneembodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “in some embodiments” means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of theinvention. The appearances of the phrases “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places in thespecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment,nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutuallyexclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are describedwhich may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly,various requirements are described which may be requirements for someembodiments but may not be requirements for other embodiments.

Embodiments of the development will now be described with reference tothe accompanying figures, wherein like numerals refer to like elementsthroughout. The terminology used in the description presented herein isnot intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner,simply because it is being utilized in conjunction with a detaileddescription of certain specific embodiments of the development.Furthermore, embodiments of the development may include several novelfeatures, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirableattributes or which is essential to practicing the invention describedherein.

Systems, devices and methods for loading and unloading an item in a trayare disclosed. The tray may receive the item from an unloading surfacethat may be located in a facility where high volumes of items must behandled. The items may need to be moved amongst various processingequipment in the facility. For instance, the items may be initiallyreceived at an intake system, sorted in a sorter system, and then placedinto a loading system for movement of the items to another piece ofequipment. The disclosed tray devices, systems and methods provide aconvenient and efficient solution to moving the items between thevarious pieces of equipment. For instance, the items may need to bemoved from the loading system to an unloading system.

In some embodiments, the tray may couple with the loading system suchthat the items can be easily slid from the loading surface and onto amoveable bottom of the tray. The moveable bottom may be moved within thetray into a first position, to form a continuous surface with a loadingsurface of the loading system for easy loading of the items, and thenmoved into a second position for transportation of the items within thetray. Once the tray is transported to another piece of equipment, forinstance the unloading system, the moveable bottom may be moved again tothe first position to form a continuous surface with an unloadingsurface of the unloading system, for easy unloading of the items ontothe unloading surface.

In some embodiments, the items may be slid from the moveable bottom andonto the unloading surface. Further, the tray may have features forstacking multiple trays together for transportation of multiple trayswhen they each contain items. The tray may also have features fornesting multiple trays together for space-saving storage and/ortransportation of the trays with no or fewer items. These are just somefeatures and functions of the disclosed tray devices, systems andmethods. Other embodiments are contemplated as within the scope of thepresent disclosure, as discussed in further detail below.

Turning to FIG. 1A, a perspective view of an embodiment of a loadingsystem 10 is shown. The loading system 10 may be located in a facilitywere high volumes of items are received and processed. In someembodiments, the illustrated loading system 10 may be located in a mailsorting facility where high volumes of mail items, such as letters andpackages, are received and processed.

The loading system 10 may include an intake system 20. The intake system20 may be a counter or other receiving structure where an item or items15 are initially brought into the loading system 10. The intake system20 may provide a surface or surfaces to place the items 15 and/or toanalyze the items. For example, the intake system may have a scanner(not shown) that reads a barcode on the items 15 in order to identifyvarious characteristics of the items 15, such as destination. The intakesystem 20 may further include a computer to facilitate with the intakeand processing of the items 15, for example by receiving and sendingdata to the intake system 20 regarding the received items 15.

The loading system 10 may further include a sorter system 30. The sortersystem 30 may be a large storage and conveyor cabinet as shown withvarious pathways for the items 15 to travel. The sorter system 30 may belocated adjacent or otherwise near the intake system 20. As shown, thesorter system 30 may be located next to the intake system 20. In someembodiments, the items 15 may be delivered from the intake system 20 tothe sorter system 30. For example, the items 15 may be put on a conveyor(not shown) which carries the items 15 from the intake system 20 to thesorter system 30. At the sorter system 30, the items 15 may be sorted orotherwise processed. In some embodiments, the sorter system 30 uses datataken at the intake system 20 in order to sort the items 15. Forinstance, barcodes on the items 15 may be read at the intake system 20and this data may be used by the sorter system 30 to sort the items 15.The items 15 may travel or otherwise be moved through the sorter system30 en route to other processing equipment, such as a stacker 40.

The loading system 10 may further include a stacker 40. The stacker 40may be a structural system with stacked components on which the itemsmay be placed. The stacker 40 may be located near or adjacent to thesorter system 30. The stacker 40 may receive the items 15 from thesorter system 30 and stack the items in various locations of the stacker40. The stacker 40 may include various bins 50 in which the sorted items15 may be placed. The bins 50 are discussed in further detail below, forexample, with respect to FIG. 1B. As an example, the items 15 may bemail pieces, such as letters and/or packages, that are sorted by thesorter system 30 and then placed into the proper bins 50 in the stacker40. Once the items are in the proper bins 50, they may then be removedfrom the stacker 40 and taken to other pieces of equipment in thefacility for further processing. Further, the bins 50 may be arranged inone or more rows 42. The rows 42 are shown in a generally verticalarrangement, although other configurations are possible. The bins 50 ina single row 42 may receive items 15 that are grouped together in somemanner, for example by recipient and/or geographic destination.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a portion of the stacker 40 thatincludes rows 42 of loading shelves 54. The loading shelves 54 may begenerally flat, elongated structures upon which the items may be placedafter being sorted in the sorter system 30 and processed in the stacker40. The loading shelves 54 may be any rigid structure capable ofsupporting the items. In some embodiments, the loading shelves 54 may beformed from metal. The loading shelves 54 may be formed from othermaterials as well, including plastics, polymers, other materials and/orcombinations thereof.

As shown, there may be two rows 42 of loading shelves 54. However, thestacker 40 may have more than two or fewer than two rows 42 of loadingshelves 54. There may be a first set of loading shelves 54 located aboveor below another set of loading shelves 54. As shown in FIG. 1B, thereare eight loading shelves 54, with a first set of four loading shelves54 located above another set of four loading shelves 54. Furthermore,one or more loading shelves 54 may be a monolithic structure or partformed from a single piece of material. For instance, the four loadingshelves 54 in the top row 42 as illustrated in FIG. 1B may be formedfrom the same sheet of material. Similarly, the four loading shelves 54in the bottom row 42 as illustrated in FIG. 1B may be formed from thesame sheet of material. In some embodiments, the loading shelves 54 maybe formed from multiple structures or parts attached or otherwisecoupled together. The loading shelves 54 shown in FIG. 1B may becomprised of eight separate loading shelves 54 that are coupledtogether. For example, the top row 42 may include four componentscoupled together to form a single, continuous loading shelf 54.Likewise, the lower row 42 may include for components coupled togetherto form a single, continuous loading shelf 54. These are just someconfigurations and materials of the loading shelves 54 that may be used.Other suitable configurations and materials may be used.

The loading shelves 54 may be used to load items into trays fortransportation to another part of the facility for further processing.For instance, the items may be slid from the loading shelf 54 and into atray (not shown). The items may be manually or automatically moved. Forexample, an arm (not shown) may push the items from the loading shelf 54and slide them into a tray.

The stacker 40 may further include walls 52. The walls 52 may beprojecting, structural components located at various locations along theloading surface or surfaces 54. As shown, there are four walls 52 oneach row 42 of loading shelves 54. The walls 52 may be elongatedstructures that separate the loading shelves 54 from one another or thatseparate different portions or areas of one loading shelf 54 from otherportions or areas of the same loading shelf 54. In some embodiments, thewalls 52 extend vertically upward from the loading shelves 54. The wallsmay be formed from a variety of materials, including metal, plastic,polymer, other suitable materials and/or combinations thereof.

The stacker 40 may include one or more bins 50. The bins 50 may bedefined by the loading shelves 54 and one or more walls 52. As shown,each bin 50 is defined by two walls 52 and a portion of the loadingshelf 54. The bin 50 may therefore be a defined area or location wherean item 15 may be placed to await removal from the stacker 40. Forexample, the stacker 40 may contain items 15 (not shown) that have beensorted and placed into various bins 50. The items 15 may be placed intoparticular bins 50 according to the final destination of the items 15.For example, the bins 50 in the top row 42 as illustrated in FIG. 1B maycontain items intended to be retrieved and sent to one part of theprocessing facility. Items that may be in the lower row 42 asillustrated in FIG. 1B may be intended for retrieval and movement to adifferent part of the processing facility. These are just some examples,and the items 15 may be placed in the various bins 50 based on othercriteria and other operations may be performed with the items 15.

The stacker 40 may further include an edge support 56. The edge support56 may be an elongated flat structure located along an edge of one ormore loading shelves 54. The edge support 56 may be formed from a metalor other rigid material. In some embodiments, the edge support 56 may bemounted or otherwise coupled with the loading shelf 54. The edge support56 may also be coupled with a different part or parts of the stacker 40.As shown, the top row 42 of bins 50 as illustrated in FIG. 1B containsthe edge support 56 attached to an edge of the loading shelf 54 in thatsame row 42. The edge support 56 may be fastened with bolts or otherwiseattached to the loading shelf 54. As shown, the edge support 56 ismechanically attached to a lower side of the edge of the loading shelf54. The edge support 56 may provide a support for other parts of theloading system 10, for example a rail 60, as discussed below.

The edge support 56 may define one or more notches 58. The edge support56 may have portions of material removed along a front edge of the edgesupport 56 to form or otherwise define the notches 58. As shown,material has been removed from the edge support 56 at locations of thefront edge of the edge support 56 that correspond to locations of thebins 50. Therefore, each bin 50 may have a notch 58 defined at alocation of the edge support 56 that is in front of a respective bin 50.As will be discussed in further detail herein, the notches 58 on theedge support 56 may be used to position and/or secure a tray to thestacker 40 in front of a bin 50 for receiving items from that same bin50.

The stacker 40 may further include a rail 60. The rail 60 may be anelongated structure located along a front edge of the loading shelf 54.As shown, the rail 60 may have a cylindrical shape and extend from oneend of the loading shelf 54 to the other end. The rail 60 may be formedfrom a metal, other rigid materials and/or combinations thereof. Therail 60 may provide a structure upon or along which a tray (not shown)may be easily moved among the various bins 50 in a single row 42 of bins50, as is discussed in further detail herein, for example with respectto FIG. 3. The rail 60 may therefore extend along the front of multiplebins 50 such that a tray (not shown) or other receiving structure may beslid along the rail 60 to receive items from the various bins 50 locatedin a single row 42. While the top row 42 is shown with the edge support56 and rail 60, it is understood that other rows 42 may include the edgesupport 56 and/or rail 60. For instance, the lower row 42 as illustratedin FIG. 1B may include the edge support 56 and/or the rail 60. There mayfurther be multiple edge supports 56 and/or rails 60 such that one ormore rows 42 each include the edge support 56 and/or the rail 60. Asshown, the rail 60 may be mounted to a top surface of the edge support56. For example, the rail 60 may contain brackets that are bolted orotherwise secured to the edge support 56.

Turning now to FIGS. 2A-2B, two embodiments of a tray 200 are shown.FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tray 200, having anembodiment of a moveable bottom 240, that may be used with the stackerof FIGS. 1A-1B. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of another embodiment of atray 200, having another embodiment of a moveable bottom 240, that maybe used with the stacker of FIGS. 1A-1B.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the tray 200 may be used with the loading system10 to receive items from the stacker 40, for example, and transport theitems 15 to another piece of processing equipment. The tray 200 mayinclude a body 210. The body 210 may be one or more structural membersthat form an outer structure of the tray 200. The body 210 may be formedfrom a rigid material, such as a plastic, polymer, metal, othermaterials and/or combinations thereof. The body 210 may have a generallysquare or rectangular profile with outer walls that define a cavity 236therein. The cavity 236 may be an interior volume of the body 210 of thetray 200 into which items 15 may be placed.

The tray 200 may include a sidewall 220. The sidewall 220 may form someor all of the body 210. The sidewall 220 may be a continuous structurethat extends generally along the outer perimeter of the body 210. Thesidewall 220 as shown may include four sides. In some embodiments, thesidewall 220 may include more or fewer sides. The sidewall 220 maydefine the lateral boundaries of the cavity 236. As shown, the sidewall220 extends along the perimeter of the body 210 and defines an internalboundary of the cavity 236. The sidewall 220 may be formed of anysuitable material, such as plastic, polymer, metal, other materialsand/or combinations thereof. The sidewall 220 may be about one quarterof an inch (0.25″) thick. In some embodiments, the sidewall may bethinner or thicker than one quarter of an inch (0.25″).

The sidewall 220 may include a top edge 223. The top edge 223 may extendalong the top of the sidewall 220 around the perimeter of the tray body210. As shown, the top edge 223 extends along all four sides of thesidewall 220. The top edge 223 may be a flat surface, a curved surface,other contours and/or combinations thereof. As shown, the top edge 223includes generally flat surfaces. Further, the top edge 223 may havevarying heights along the perimeter of the tray 200. For example, onesection of the top edge 223 may be higher or lower in the verticaldirection compared to other portions of the top edge 223 (see FIG. 2H).As is discussed in further detail herein, for example with respect toFIGS. 3-4B, portions of the top edge 223 may be used to form portions ofa continuous surface for easily loading and unloading items to and fromthe tray 200.

The top edge 223 may include a front edge 248. The front edge 248 may bea portion of the top edge 223 near the front of the tray 200. The frontedge 248 may have any of the features or functionalities of the top edge223. Further, the front edge 248 may extend along the front of the tray200 as well as along the sides of the tray 200. As shown, the front edge248 is a generally straight portion of the top edge 223 along the frontof the tray 200.

The top edge 223 may include a back edge 216. The back edge 216 may be aportion or portions of the top edge 223 that are near the back of thetray 200. As shown, the back edge 216 is a portion of the top edge 223extending along the back side of the sidewall 220. The back edge 216 mayhave any of the features or functionalities of the top edge 223 and orof the front edge 248. The back edge 216 may be located at the same or adifferent height then the front edge 248. In some embodiments, the backedge 216 is located vertically higher than the front edge 248 (see FIG.2H). Other configurations are possible.

The tray 200 may include a bottom edge 225. The bottom edge 225 may be abottom edge of the sidewall 220. The bottom edge 225 may extend alongthe bottom of the sidewall 223 along the perimeter of the tray 200. Asshown, the bottom edge 225 extends along the four sides of the sidewall220 around the lower perimeter of the tray body 210.

The tray 200 may include a front side 221. The front side 221 may be oneor more portions of the sidewall 220. The front side 221 may be formedof the same or similar materials as the tray body 210. Further, thefront side 221 may form a part of the body 210. The front side 221 maybe a generally planar structure forming a wall on the front of the traybody 210. As shown, the front side 221 is generally rectangular and hasa thickness. The thickness of the front side 221 may be similar to thethickness of other sides of the sidewall 220. In some embodiments, thefront side 221 is about one quarter of an inch (0.25″) thick. The frontside 221 may also be thinner or thicker than one quarter of an inch(0.25″).

The tray 200 may include a back side 230. The back side 230 may be astructural member that encloses the back part of the tray body 210 thatis located opposite from the front side 221. The back side 230 may havesimilar features and functionalities as the front side 221. The backside 231 may form a back part of the sidewall 220. The back side 230 maybe formed of a plastic, polymer, metal, other suitable materials and/orcombinations thereof. The back side 230 may include portions of the topedge 223 and/or the bottom edge 225. As shown, the back side 230 is agenerally planar structure having a thickness with a top portion thatincludes part of the top edge 223 and a bottom portion that includespart of the bottom edge 225.

The tray 200 may include a left side 232 and a right side 234. The leftand right sides 232, 234 may be structural members of the tray body 210that enclose sides of the tray 200. The left side 232 and the right side234 may be generally planar structural members. As shown, the left side232 and the right side 234 are generally rectangular. Other suitableconfigurations may be implemented. The left and right sides 232, 234 mayhave the same or similar features and/or functions as the front side 221and/or the back side 230. The left and right sides 232, 234 may beformed from a variety of materials, including plastics, polymers,metals, other suitable materials and/or combinations thereof.

The front side 221, the back side 230, the left side 232, and the rightside 234 may be connected or otherwise coupled together to enclose aninterior portion of the tray 200. In some embodiments, the sides 221,230, 232, 234 are coupled together such that they define the cavity 236.For example, the front side 221 may be located on an opposite end of thetray 200 from the back side 230. Similarly, the left side 232 may belocated on an opposite side of the tray 200 from the right side 234.Therefore, the front side 221 may be structurally attached to the leftside 232 and to the right side 234. Similarly, the back side 230 may bestructurally attached to the left side 232 and to the right side 234.

The various sides may be attached or otherwise coupled in a number ofmanners. In some embodiments, the sides 221, 230, 232, 234 of thesidewall 220 may be connected with brackets or the like. In someembodiments, the sides 221, 230, 232, 234 of the sidewall 220 may beportions of a single, monolithic or otherwise continuous structure.Therefore, the various sides 221, 230, 232, 234 of the sidewall 220 maybe configured in a variety of ways.

The tray 200 may include a top portion 222. The top portion 222 mayinclude an upper portion or portions of the sidewall 220. In someembodiments, the top portion 222 includes top portions of the sides 221,230, 232, 234 of the tray 200. As shown, the top portion 222 may includeupper segments of each of the front side 221, the back side 230, theleft side 232 and the right side 234. In some embodiments, the topportion 222 may be the top half of the sides 221, 230, 232, 234.However, the top portion 222 may be more or less than half of the sides221, 230, 232, 234. The top portion 222 may include the top edge 223.Therefore, the top portion 222 may include an upper part or segment ofthe various sides 221, 230, 232, 234 as well as the top edge 223. Forexample, the top portion 222 may include an upper segment of the frontside 221 as well as the front edge 214 of the tray body 210. In someembodiments, the top portion 222 further includes upper segments orparts of a track 226, which is discussed in further detail herein, forexample with respect to FIGS. 2I-2J. The top portion 222 may includevarious surfaces of the various sides 221, 230, 232, 234. For example,the top portion 222 may include both interior and exterior surfaces ofthe sides 221, 230, 232, 234. In some embodiments, the top portion 222includes interior and exterior surfaces of the front side 221 as well asvarious surfaces of the top edge 223. Therefore, the top portion 222 isnot limited to a particular side or area of the various components ofthe tray 200.

The tray 200 may further include a bottom portion 224. In someembodiments, there are multiple bottom portions 224. The bottom portion224 may refer to a lower segment or area of the various sides 221, 230,232, 234 of the tray body 210. In some embodiments, the bottom portion224 includes lower segments of the sidewall 220. As shown, the bottomportion 224 may include lower segments of the front side 221, the backside 230, the left side 232 and the right side 234. The bottom portion224 may further include some or all of the bottom edge 225. As shown,the bottom portion 224 may include the bottom edge 225 along with thelower segments of the various sides 221, 230, 232, 234. In someembodiments, the bottom portion 224 includes portions of the varioussides of the sidewall 220 other than the top portion 222. Therefore, thebottom portion 224 may be distinct from the top portion 222. However, insome embodiments, the bottom portion 224 may overlap with the topportion 222. In some embodiments, the bottom portion 224 may furtherinclude some or all of a bottom side 260 of the tray body 210, as isdiscussed in further detail herein, for example with respect to FIGS.2A-2D and 2F.

The tray 200 may include one or more handles 212. The handles 212 may bea structural component of the tray body 210 by which a person can grabthe tray 200. As shown in FIG. 2A, the handle 212 may be formed by oneor more portions of the sidewall 220. For example, the handles 212 maybe defined by the front side 221 and the back side 230. The front side221 may have material cut out of it in the top portion 222 to define ahandle 212 on the front of the tray 200. Likewise, the back side 230 mayhave material cut out of it in the top portion 222 to define a handle212 on the back of the tray 200. There may be two handles 212. In someembodiments, there may be more or fewer than two handles 212.

The tray body 210 may further include one or more feet 272. The feet 272may be structural protrusions extending laterally outward from one ormore sides of the sidewall 220. The feet 272 may be rectangularprotrusions extending outward from the right side 234 and from the leftside 232 (not shown). The feet 272 may define a space on the inside ofthe perimeter of the feet 272. As shown, the feet 272 may include agenerally rectangular border defining a generally rectangular spacetherein. The feet 272 may be formed from the same or similar materialsas other parts of the tray 200. For example, the feet 272 may be formedfrom the same material as the part of the sidewall 220 from which theyextend, for instance a plastic, polymer, metal, other suitable materialsand/or combinations thereof. The feet 272 may be located at variouslocations of the sidewall 220. There may be two feet 272 each on theright side 234 and on the left side 232 (not shown). One of the feet 272on the right side 234 may be located near the front side 221 and theother near the back side 230. In some embodiments, the feet 272 are notlocated symmetrically with respect to the front and back sides 221, 230but are rather biased to one side or the other. As shown, the locationsof the feet 272 on the left and right sides 232, 234 are biased towardthe front side 221. Therefore, the feet 272 may be offset or otherwisebiased to one or more sides of the tray 200. Other suitableconfigurations may be implemented.

The locations of the feet 272 may allow for certain functionalities ofthe tray 200. For example, the locations of the feet 272 may allow formultiple trays 200 to be stacked on top of each other and/or nestedtogether, as is discussed in further detail herein, for example withrespect to FIGS. 2Q-2R.

The tray 200 may include one or more pads 273. The pads 273 may befeatures of the feet 272. As shown, the pads 273 include lower surfacesof the feet 272. In some embodiments, the pads 273 are lower surfacesand/or edges of the feet 272. The pads 273 may provide features forcontacting other parts of the tray 200 when multiple trays are stackedor nested. The pads 273 may be formed from the same or similar materialsas the sidewall 220 and/or the feet 272, for example plastic, polymer,metal, other suitable materials and/or combinations thereof.

The tray 200 may include one or more pad edges 299. The pad edges 299may be external protrusions of the sidewall 210. The pad edges 299 mayextend along the top portion 222 of the sidewall 210. In addition oralternatively, the pad edges 299 may extend along other portions of thetray 200, such as the bottom portion 224. The pad edges 299 may serve asimilar function as the pads 273. In some embodiments, the pad edges 299of a first tray 200 rest on some or all of the top edge 223 of a secondtray 200 into which the first tray 200 is nested. The pad edges 299 mayextend along the outside of the sidewall around the entire perimeter ofthe tray body 210, such that it rests along most or all of the top edge223 of another tray 200 when nested with that other tray 200. In someembodiments, the pad edges 299 may not be used to nest the trays 200.

The tray 200 may include one or more recesses 276. As shown in FIG. 2A,the recesses 276 may be formed in structural projections of the sidewall220. FIG. 2A shows four recesses 276 formed in structural features thatproject from the inside of the sidewall 220 into the cavity 236 towardthe interior of the tray body 210. The recesses 276 may also be formedby projections on the outside of the sidewall 220. The recesses 276 maybe defined by or otherwise formed in the top of the projections. Theremay be more or fewer than four projections defining four recesses 276.The locations of the recesses 276 may be biased to one side or theother, such as toward the front side 221 as shown in FIG. 2A.

In some embodiments, the recesses 276 may have a length that is the sameor similar as a length of the pads 273 of the feet 272. In someembodiments, the recesses 276 of a first tray 200 may receive the pads273 from a second tray 200 in order to stack the two trays 200, as isdiscussed in further detail herein, for example with respect to FIGS. 2Qand 2R.

The tray 200 may include one or more pockets 274. The pockets 274 may befeatures of the tray 200 formed in or otherwise defined by one or moresides of the sidewall 220. As shown in FIG. 2A, the left side 232includes two pockets and the right side 234 includes two pockets 274(not shown). However, there may be more or fewer pockets 274. Further,the pockets 274 may be located on the other side of the tray body 210,for example the front side 221 and/or the back side 230. The pockets 274may be portions of the various sides of the sidewall 220 where materialhas been removed. For example, the various sides of the sidewall 220 mayhave indentations which form the pocket 274. As shown, the pockets 274heavy a generally rectangular shape and may include a portion of the topedge 223. The pockets 274 may further include edges that are shared withthe sidewall 220. The pockets 274 may be in various locations along therespective side of the sidewall 220. As shown in FIG. 2A, the pockets274 may be biased toward the back side 230. In some embodiments, thepockets 270 274 are located near or adjacent the recesses 276. Bybiasing the pockets 270 to one side, multiple trays may be nestedtogether, as is discussed in further detail herein, for example withrespect to FIGS. 2Q and 2R. These are just some possible configurationsof the pockets 274 and the recesses 276. Other suitable arrangements maybe implemented.

The pockets 274 may have a width that allows them to receive the feet272 of another tray 200. For example, the pockets 274 may have a widththat allows the pockets 274 to receive generally rectangular shaped feet272. Further, the pockets 274 may have a depth that allows the feet 272of another tray 200 to enter and slide into the pocket 274 to allowanother tray 200 to nest within the tray 200, as is discussed in furtherdetail herein, for example with respect to FIGS. 2Q and 2R.

The tray 200 may include a bottom side 260. The bottom side 260 may be aside of the tray body 210 that is located at or near the lower part ofthe tray body 210. The bottom side 260 may be a structural componentthat can hold the item or items 15, or other parts of the tray. Thebottom side 260 may be formed from the same or similar materials asother parts of the tray 200. For example, the bottom side 260 may beplastic, polymer, metal, other suitable materials and/or combinationsthereof. The bottom side 260 may further define a window 264, as isdiscussed in further detail herein, for example with respect to FIGS. 2Fand 2I. The bottom side 260 may be a stationary portion of the bottompart of the tray body 210. For example, the bottom side 260 may be aflange or other structural component that extends around the perimeterof the bottom of the tray 200. Therefore, many different configurationsand features of the bottom side 260 may be implemented. The bottom side260 is discussed in further detail herein for example with respect toFIGS. 2F and 2I.

The tray 200 may further include one or more protrusions 228. As shownin FIG. 2A, the protrusion 228 may be an inner edge of one or more ofthe sides of the tray sidewall 220. The protrusion 228 may providesupport or stability to the item (not shown) inside the tray cavity 236.As shown, the protrusion 228 may extend along the back side 230 near thevertical midpoint of the back side 230. The protrusion 228 in FIG. 2A isan elongated protrusion on the interior of the sidewall 220. Theprotrusion 228 may further run along the left side 232 and/or the rightside 234. In some embodiments, the protrusion 228 may also be located onthe front side 221. Another embodiment of the protrusion 228 is shown inFIG. 2B. As shown, the protrusion 228 may be elongated vertically andextend up from the bottom side 260.

The tray 200 may further include one or more nesting supports 275. Thenesting supports 275 may provide a support for nested trays 200. Forexample, one or more surfaces of the nesting supports 275 of a firsttray 200 may have portions of a second tray 200 resting on or otherwisecontacting the top of the surfaces of the support 275 of the first tray200. The nesting support 275 may extend vertically for only a portion ofthe sidewall 220, such that when another tray 200 is nested within thecavity 236, the cavity 236 receives part of the other tray 200. In someembodiments, a first tray 200 receives some or all of the bottom portion224 of a second tray 200 that is nested within the cavity 236 of thefirst tray. The nesting configuration of trays 200 is discussed infurther detail herein, for example with respect to FIGS. 2Q-2R.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the tray 200 may include one or more tracks 226.Only a top portion of the tracks 226 are shown. The tracks 226 may be astructural component of one or more sides of the sidewall 220. In someembodiments, the track 226 is an elongated structure extendingvertically on an interior side of one or more of the sides of thesidewall 220. The track 226 may be a protrusion extending towards theinterior of the tray 200 into the cavity 236. In some embodiments, thetrack 226 is formed from the same material as one or more sides of thesidewall 220. As shown, the tray 200 includes two tracks 226 extendingvertically along an interior surface of the front side 221. Otherconfigurations and orientations of the track 226 are possible. The track226 or tracks 226 may provide a structural component that allows formovement of other features of the tray 200, as is discussed in furtherdetail herein, for example, with respect to FIGS. 2I-2I For instance,the tracks 226 may provide a structure along which a moveable bottom 240may move.

The tray 200 may include a moveable bottom 240. The moveable bottom 240may be a structural component of the tray 200 formed from a variety ofmaterials. The moveable bottom 240 may be formed from, for example,plastic, polymer, metal, other suitable materials and/or combinationsthereof. In some embodiments, the moveable bottom 240 is a generallyplanar structure extending for much for most of the length and width ofthe cavity 236. The moveable bottom 240 may therefore be located eitherentirely or partially within the cavity 236, depending on its position.The moveable bottom 240 may be one eighth of an inch (0.125″) thick. Themoveable bottom 240 may be thicker or thinner than one eighth of an inch(0.125″). The moveable bottom 240 may provide one or more surfaces tofacilitate receiving items 15 within the cavity 236 of the tray 200, asis discussed in further detail herein, for example, with respect toFIGS. 3-4B.

The moveable bottom 240 may include a center portion 255. The centerportion 255 may be a generally planar structure forming a central partof the moveable bottom 240. The center portion 255 may have a generallyrectangular shape and a thickness of one sixteenth of an inch (0.063″).In some embodiments, the center portion 255 has other shapes and orthicknesses. The center portion 255 may therefore generally extend for adistance that is similar to the distance between the front side 221 andthe back side 230 and/or the distance between the left side 232 and theright side 234 of the tray sidewall 220. The center portion 255 may haveother suitable configurations and orientations. The center portion 255may provide a surface upon which items 15 may be placed for loading andunloading items 15 within the tray 200.

The center portion 255 may include a top surface 242 and/or a bottomsurface 243 (not shown). The top surface 242 may provide a feature ofthe moveable bottom 240 that receives the item 15. The top surface 242may be generally flat and extend from one end of the center portion 255to the other end. The top surface 242 may be located on the oppositeside of the center portion 255 as the bottom surface 243. Therefore, thethickness of the center portion 255 may be the distance between the topsurface 242 and the bottom surface 243. The top surface 242 and or thebottom surface 243 may refer to portions of the center portion 255. Insome embodiments, the top surface 242 and or the bottom surface 243 maybe a separate feature from the center portion 255. For example, the topsurface 242 may include a surface finish or other feature to facilitatesliding the items 15 on or off the moveable bottom 240.

The moveable bottom may include one or more side portions 244. The sideportions 244 may be structural components of the moveable bottom 240that are located on one or more sides of the moveable bottom 240. Asshown, there may be two side portions 244 located on opposite sides ofthe center portion 255. The side portions 244 may be in other locations.The side portions 244 may be formed from the same or similar materialsas a center portion 255. For example, the side portions 244 may beplastic, polymer, metal, other suitable materials and/or combinationsthereof. The side portions 244 may extend along sides of the centerportion 255 and extend generally vertically therefrom. The side portions244 may be flaps along the side sides of the moveable bottom 240. Theside portions 244 may be entirely within the cavity 236 of the tray 200or they may extend outside of the cavity 236, depending on the positionof the moveable bottom 240.

As shown, portions of the side portions 244 may extend above the topedge 223 of the tray body 210. Therefore, some of the side portions 244may be lower than the top edge 223 and other parts of the side portions244 may be higher than the top edge 223. The side portions 244 may beintegral with the center portion 255. In some embodiments, the sideportions 244 may be separate parts of the moveable bottom 240 that arecoupled with the center portion 255. For example, the side portions 244may be coupled with the center portion 255 by hinges or other mechanicalattachments. The side portions 244 may be rigid or flexible. The sideportions 244 may be able to move with respect to the center portion 255.For example, the end portions 246 may be able to be rotate about theinterface with the center portion 255. For instance, the side portions244 may be flaps that can move from side to side. The side portions 200may help guide the items 15 being loaded or unloaded into the tray 200.In some embodiments, the side portions 244 have a height similar to theheight of the bottom portion 224 of the tray body 210. However, the sideportions 244 may be taller or shorter than the bottom portion 224.

The moveable bottom 240 may include one or more end portions 246. Theend portion 246 may be a structural component of the moveable bottom 240on one or more ends of the moveable bottom 240. As shown, in FIG. 2A,the end portion 246 may be coupled with one of the ends of the centerportion 255. The end portion 246 as shown in FIG. 2A may have agenerally rectangular and/or planar shape. The end portion 246 mayextend for some or all of the width of the center portion 255. As shownin FIG. 2A, the end portion 246 extends for less than the width of thecenter portion 255. FIG. 2A depicts merely one example of the endportion 246, and other configurations, orientations and shapes arepossible.

The moveable bottom may include a front end 247. The front end 247 mayinclude one or more portions of the moveable bottom 240. The front end247 may include a front portion of the center portion 255. The front end247 may also include parts of the end portions 246. Therefore, the frontend of the moveable bottom 240 may include a foreword part of the centerportion 250 and forward parts of the end portions 246. The front end 247may further include forward portions of the top surface 242 and orforward portions of the bottom surface 243 (not shown). The front end247 may provide features for movement of the moveable bottom 240relative to the body 210 of the tray 200, as discussed in further detailherein, for example with respect to FIGS. 2I-2O.

The moveable bottom may include a front edge 248. The front edge 248 maybe an edge or edges of the front end 247. As shown, the front edge 248extends between the side portions 244 along an edge of the front end247. The front edge 248 may be generally straight or linear. In someembodiments, the front edge 248 may extend along different contours, forexample curved, or combinations of curved and straight. Further, thefront edge 248 may define various features of the moveable bottom 240.As shown, the front edge 248 extends toward the center portion 255 attwo locations. These two locations roughly correspond to the locationsof the two tracks 226. The front edge 248 may extend in this directionto form one or more notches 250, as is discussed in further detailherein, for example, with respect to FIGS. 2E and 2P. These are justsome examples of the contours and the shapes that the front edge 248 mayinclude. Other contours and shapes are possible.

The moveable bottom may include a back end 241. The back end 241 mayrefer to a back part of the moveable bottom 248. As shown, the back end241 may include a back part of the center portion 255. The back end 241may further include rearward portions of the side portions 244. The backend 241 may be located on an opposite end of the moveable bottom 240 ascompared to the front and 247. As shown, the back and 241 is locatedopposite from the front and 247. Further, the back and 241 may includeportions of the top surface 242 and/or the bottom surface 243 (notshown).

The moveable bottom 240 may include a back edge 245. The back edge 245may refer to one or more edges of various parts of the moveable bottom240. As shown, the back edge 245 may include an edge of the back end241. The back edge 245 may further include one or more edges of thecenter portion 255. As shown, the back edge 245 may extend along thewidth of the moveable bottom 240 from one side to the other. As shown,the back edge 245 may extend from one side portion 244 to the other sideportion 244. Further, the back edge may have various shapes and orcontours. As shown, the back edge 245 may extend towards the centerportion 255. The back edge 245 may extend in this or other directions todefine one or more features of the moveable bottom 240. As shown, theback edge 245 may extend towards the center portion 255 to define one ormore notches 252, as is discussed in further detail herein, for example,with respect to FIGS. 2E and 2P. The notches 252 defined by the backedge 245 may allow the moveable bottom 240 to move further towards theback side 230 of the tray body 210.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tray 200. Thetray 200 shown in FIG. 2B may be the same or similar as the tray 200shown in FIG. 2A but with the following differences. As shown in FIG.2B, the handle or handles 212 may protrude from one or more parts of thesidewall 220. The handle 212 visible in FIG. 2B extends laterallyoutward from the front side 221, and another handle 212 (not shown)extends laterally outward from the back side 230. Therefore, manydifferent configurations of the handle 212 are possible.

As further shown in FIG. 2B, the feet 272 may be biased towards the backside 230. There may further be three feet 272 on a single side of thetray body 210.

The recesses 276 may also be formed in or otherwise defined by the topedge 223 of the tray body 210. The recesses 276 may extend along adistance of the top edge 223. As shown in FIG. 2B, four portions of thetop edge 223 may define four recesses 276. There may be more or fewerthan four recesses 276 defined by the top edge 223. The recess 276 maybe a portion of the top edge 223 where material has been removed. Insome embodiments, the recess 276 includes a surface that is lower thansurfaces of the top edge 223 that are adjacent to the recess 276. Thelocations of the recesses 276 may be biased toward the back side 230.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the pockets 274 may be biased toward the front side221. Thus, the pockets 274 may be biased toward different sides indifferent embodiments.

A protrusion 228 may protrude towards the interior cavity 236 andprovide stability to an item 15 placed inside the tray cavity 236. InFIG. 2B, only one protrusion 228 is shown, however there may be multipleprotrusions 228. Further, the protrusion 228 shown in FIG. 2B may, inaddition or alternatively, be located along another side of the sidewall220, such as the left side 232, the right side 234, and/or the frontside 221.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the end portion 246 of the moveable bottom 240include multiple segments. The end portion 246 may have a middle segmentand two end segments (only one of the end segment are shown) with alonger middle segment and shorter end segments. Further, the end portion246 may define a space in between the various segments, such as a notch252, as discussed in further detail herein, for example, with respect toFIGS. 2E and 2P. The space or spaces defined by the end portion 246 mayreceive a protrusion 228. Because the protrusion 228 may extend into thecavity 236, the spaces defined by the end portion 246 may allow themoveable bottom 240 to move further back in the tray body 210 towardsthe back side 230.

The moveable bottom 240 may be in a variety of positions. As shown inFIGS. 2A-2B, the moveable bottom 240 may be in a first position. In thefirst position, the moveable bottom 240 may be angled with respect tothe body 210 of the tray 200. In some embodiments, in the first positionthe front end 247 may be coupled with the top portion 222.

The front end 247 may be coupled with the top portion 222 in a varietyof ways. In some embodiments, in the first position the front end 247 ofthe moveable bottom 240 may be near the top edge 223 of the tray body210. As shown, in the first position the front end 247 may be adjacentto the top edge 223. In some embodiments, in the first position thefirst edge 248 of the moveable bottom 240 may be near the top edge 223of the tray body 210. In some embodiments, the front edge 248 may beadjacent to the top edge 223.

In some embodiments, in the first position the front edge 248 maycontact one or more parts of the tray body 210. For example, in thefirst position the front edge 248 may contact an interior surface and/ortop surface of the front side 221. In some embodiments, in the firstposition the moveable bottom 240 may form a continuous surface with thetop edge 223. For example, the center portion 255 of the moveable bottom240 in the first position may form a continuous surface with the topedge 223 of the tray body 210. By continuous surface it is meant thatthe center portion 255 is contacting or is otherwise near the topportion 222 of the tray body 210 such that an item 15 may be easily andessentially uninterruptedly slid across the interface.

As is discussed in further detail herein, for example, with respect toFIGS. 2I-2J, these or other features of the front end 247 of themoveable bottom 240 may be coupled with the top portion 220 of the traybody 210. As is discussed, in some embodiments, in the first positionthe front end 247 of the moveable bottom 240 may be coupled with the topportion 222 via the track 226.

In the first position, the back end 241 of the moveable bottom 240 maybe near the bottom portion 224 of the tray body 210. In someembodiments, the back end 241 of the moveable bottom 240 may be restingon or otherwise contacting the bottom side 260, as is discussed infurther detail herein, for example, with respect to FIG. 2I. The firstposition, and associated movements of components of the tray 200 toachieve the first position, are discussed in further detail herein, forexample with respect to FIGS. 4C-4D.

As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2K, the moveable bottom 240 may be in a secondposition. Referring to FIG. 2C, a perspective view of the tray 200 withthe moveable bottom 240 oriented in the second position is depicted. Asshown, in the second position the moveable bottom 240 may be receivedinto a lower area of the cavity 236. In some embodiments, the moveablebottom 240 in the second position may rest on the lower parts orfeatures of the tray body 210. For example, in the second position themoveable bottom 240 may rest on the bottom side 260 (not shown). In someembodiments, the center portion 255 of the moveable bottom may contactthe bottom side 260. In some embodiments, the bottom surface 243 of themoveable bottom may rest on top of the bottom side 260.

The back end 241 of the moveable bottom 240 may be located physicallycloser to the back side 230 of the tray body 210 in the second positionas compared to the first position. In some embodiments, the back end 241may slide along the bottom side of 260 as the moveable bottom 240 movesfrom the first position to the second position, or vice versa. In thesecond position, in some embodiments, the end portion 246 of themoveable bottom 240 may butt up against an interior surface of the backside 230 of the tray body 210. In some embodiments, in the secondposition the back edge 245 of the moveable bottom may contact variousfeatures of the tray body 210, for example the protrusions 228 and/orthe back side 230. In some embodiments, in the second position segmentsof the side portions 244 may also contact the back side 230. In someembodiments, in the second position the front end 247 of the moveablebottom 240 may be coupled with the bottom portion 224 of the tray body210, as is discussed in further detail herein, for example, with respectto FIG. 2K. These are merely examples of how the moveable bottom 240 maybe oriented within the tray body 210 in the second position. Othersuitable configurations and arrangements may be implemented.

In the second position, the moveable bottom 240 may therefore lay flatnear the lower parts of the tray body 210 such that the volume of spacewithin the cavity 236 above the moveable bottom 240 may be greater ascompared to this same volume with the moveable bottom 240 in the firstposition. The tray 200 may be used for transporting items within thecavity 236 when the moveable bottom 240 is in the second position. Thesecond position, and associated movements of components of the tray 200to achieve the second position, are discussed in further detail herein,for example with respect to FIGS. 4C-4D.

FIG. 2D is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tray body 210. Theembodiment shown may be used with the tray 200 shown in FIG. 2B and/orother embodiments. As shown, the tray 200 is depicted without themoveable bottom 240. The tray body 210 may include an inner edge 262.The inner edge 262 may be a part of the bottom side 260. As shown theinner edge 262 may define an inside edge of the bottom side 260. Theinner edge 262 may extend continuously along portions of the bottom side260. One or more features may be defined by the bottom edge 262. Forexample, the bottom edge 262 may define an opening in the bottom side260. In some embodiments, the inner edge 262 defines a window 264.

The tray 200 may include a window 264. The window 264 may be an openingin the tray 200. As shown, the window 264 may be an opening in thebottom side 260 defined by the inner edge 262. The inner edge 262 maydefine a window 264 with various shapes and sizes. As shown, the inneredge 262 may define a generally rectangular window 264, the shape ofwhich is more clearly seen in FIG. 2F. The window 264 may provide anaccess into the cavity 236 through the bottom side 260. As is discussedin further detail herein, for example with respect to FIGS. 2Q-2R, thewindow 264 may provide access for one or more arms 415 that may move themoveable bottom 240.

The bottom side 260 may include various structural features orcomponents. As shown, the bottom side 260 may include ribs. Otherstructural features and components of the bottom side 260 may beimplemented.

As mentioned, the tray 200 may include one or more nesting supports 275.The nesting support 275 may be a lower portion of the nesting pocket274. The nesting support 275 may provide a surface or surfaces on whichthe pads 273 of a second tray 200 may rest. For example, the nestingsupports 275 of a first tray 200 may support the pads 273 of a secondtray 200 that is nested within the first tray 200, as is discussed infurther detail herein, for example, with respect to FIGS. 2Q-2R.

FIG. 2E is a top view of the tray 200. As shown, the moveable bottom 240is located inside the tray body 210. In some embodiments, the sidewall220 may completely encapsulate the moveable bottom 240. For example, themoveable bottom 240 may be entirely within the cavity 236 such that thefront and 247 of the moveable bottom 240 is on the inside of the frontside 221 and the back end 241 of the moveable bottom is on the inside ofthe back side 230. Similarly, the sides of the moveable bottom 240 maybe on the inside of the left side 232 and the right side 234.

As mentioned, the moveable bottom may include a front edge 248 thatdefines one or more notches 250. As shown in FIG. 2E, the front edge 248may define two notches 250. In some embodiments, there may be more orfewer notches 250. Further, there may be no notches 250. As shown, thefront edge 248 may define two generally rectangular shaped notches 250that align with the location of the tracks 226. The front edge 240 maytherefore define notches 250 that receive the tracks 226. Otherconfigurations are possible. The moveable bottom 240 may move along thetracks 226 with the tracks 226 within the notches 250 defined by thefront edge 248.

As mentioned, the moveable bottom may include one or more back edges 245that define one or more notches 252. As shown, the back edge 245 maydefine two notches 252 that align with the protrusion 228. In thismanner, the notches 252 defined by the back edge 245 may receive theprotrusion 228 therein. This may allow, for example, the back end 241 ofthe moveable bottom 240 to move closer to the back side 230 of the traybody 210. In some embodiments, the notches 252 defined by the back edge245 allow the back end or ends 241 to contact the inside surface of theback side 230. For example, in the second position the moveable bottom240 may contact the back side 230. The moveable bottom 240 may alsocontact the back side 230 in the first position, or any position inbetween the first and second positions.

As mentioned, and as more clearly seen in FIG. 2E, the nesting pockets274 and/or the recesses 276 may be biased toward the front side 221 ortoward the back side 230. As shown, the nesting pockets 274 may bebiased towards the front side 221. Further, the recesses 276 may bebiases towards the back side 230. This is merely one arrangement, andother suitable configurations are possible. For example, the recesses276 may be biased towards the front side 221. Similarly, the pockets 274may be biased towards the back side 230.

FIG. 2F is a bottom view of the tray 200. As shown, both handles 212 arevisible. A first handle 212 is on the front side 221, and a secondhandle 212 is on the back side 230. Further shown is the bottom side260. The inner edge 262 that defines the window 264 is also more clearlyseen. As mentioned, the inner edge 262 of the bottom side 260 may be acontinuous edge along an inner perimeter of the bottom side 260. Theinner perimeter formed by the inner edge 262 may define an outerperimeter of the window 264. The inner edge 262 may extend along severallinear straight portions to form straight sides and ends of the window264. In some embodiments, the inner edge 262 may have generally straightsides with rounded corners in between. Therefore, the window 264 formedby the inner edge 262 may also have four generally straight sides. Asshown, the window 264 is generally rectangular with longer sides andshorter ends. Other shapes and proportions of the window 264 arepossible.

As further shown in FIG. 2F, portions of the moveable bottom 240 may beseen through the window 264. In some embodiments, portions of the centerportion 255 of the moveable bottom 240 may be accessed through thewindow 264. Therefore, the moveable bottom 240 may be ask accessedthrough the window 264. In some embodiments, the bottom surface 243 ofthe center portion 255 may be accessed through the window 264. In someembodiments, other parts or portions of the moveable bottom 240 may beaccessed through the window 264. As is discussed in further detailherein, for example, with respect to FIGS. 2Q-2R, features of theloading or unloading system, such as a arm 415, may contact the moveablebottom 240 through the window 264.

FIG. 2G is a right side view of the tray 200. The tray 200 is shown withthe tray body 210 including the moveable bottom 240 therein. Themoveable bottom 240 is shown in the first position where the front end247 of the moveable bottom 240 is coupled with the top portion 222 ofthe tray body 210. This coupling is not shown in FIG. 2G but is shownand discussed elsewhere herein, for example with respect to FIGS. 2I-2IIn the first position, portions of the moveable bottom 240 may extend orprotrude above in a vertical direction beyond the top edge 223 of thetray body 210. In some embodiments, in the first position the sideportions 244 may extend above the top edge 223. As shown, portions ofthe side portions 244 may extend above the top edge 223. In someembodiments, portions of the side portions 244 that are near the frontend 247 of the moveable bottom 240 may extend above the top edge 223.

FIG. 2H is a front view of the tray 200. As shown, and as previouslydiscussed, the side portions 244 may extend above the top edge 223 ofthe tray body 210. In some embodiments, the side portions 244 are planarstructures such that viewed from the front of the tray 200 the sideportions 244 have a small profile extending upward from the cavity 236beyond the top edge 223. The side portions 244 may further define thecavity 236. Therefore, the cavity 236 may refer to a volume of spacethat is enclosed by portions of the side portions 244 extending abovethe top edge 223.

Further shown in FIG. 2H is the front edge 214 and the back edge 216. Insome embodiments, the back edge 216 may be located higher than the frontedge 214 when the tray 200 is horizontal. Therefore, as viewed from thefront, the back edge 216 may appear above the front edge 214 when thetray 200 is horizontal such that a small sliver of the interior of theback side 230 is visible. This is merely one configuration, and otherconfigurations of the front edge 214 and the back edge 216 are possible.

FIG. 2I is a cross-section view of the tray 200. As shown in FIG. 2I,the moveable bottom 240 is in the first position. As mentioned, in thefirst position the moveable bottom 240 may be angled with respect to thetray body 210. For example, the center portion 255 of the moveablebottom 240 may be angled with respect to the bottom side 260 of traybody 210. In some embodiments, in the first position the back end 241 ofthe moveable bottom 240 may be on or near the part of the bottom side260 that is near the back side 230. In some embodiments, in the firstposition the front end 247 of the moveable bottom 240 may be at or nearthe top portion 222 of the front side 221. In some embodiments, in thefirst position the front end 247 may be coupled with the top portion222. By “coupled with,” it is meant that the front end 247 ismechanically linked, either directly or indirectly, with the top portion222. For example, the front end 247 may be directly connected tofeatures of the top portion 222, including but not limited to an upperportion of the track 226, the front edge 214, other features of thefront side 221, and/or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the front end 247 may be coupled with the topportion 222 indirectly by means of intervening parts. For example, thefront end 247 of the moveable bottom 240 may be coupled with the topportion 222 by a bracket 280. The bracket 280 may be attached orotherwise coupled with the center portion 255 or other parts of themoveable bottom 240. In some embodiments, the front end 247 may becoupled with the top portion 222 by one or more projections 282. Furtherdetails of the bracket 280 and the projection 282 are discussed herein,for example, with respect to FIGS. 2L-2O. In some embodiments, thebracket 280 may be attached to the moveable bottom by fasteners. Othermeans of attaching may be used, such as bolts, screws, adhesive, othersuitable means and/or combinations thereof. The projections 282 mayextend laterally outward from the bracket 280 such that they couple withone or more features of the front side 221. In some embodiments, theprojections 282 may couple with a slot 229 formed by an inner edge 227of the track 226.

FIG. 2I further shows a side view of one of the tracks 226. As shown,the track 226 may extend vertically along an interior side of the frontside 221 of the tray body 210. The track 226 may extend from the bottomside 260 up to the top edge 223. The track 226 may have the inner edge227 extending continuously along an inner perimeter of the track 226 toform the slot 229. The slot 229 may therefore be an opening in thestructure of the track 226 that may receive the projection 282. In someembodiments, the slot 229 may receive the projection 282 and allow theprojection 282 to move within the slot 229 in a vertical direction whilepreventing the projection 282 from moving substantially in a front toback direction. As shown, the inner edge 227 may define a generallyelongated slot 229 with rounded ends and generally straight sides. Aclose-up of the area 2J in FIG. 2I is given in FIG. 2J.

FIG. 2J is a detail view of the cross section of the tray 200 taken fromthe area 2J as indicated in FIG. 2I. As shown in FIG. 2J, the projection282 may be captured within the slot 229 formed by the inner edge 227 ofthe track 226. The projection 282 may move up or down within the slot229. For example, the projection 282 may move up in the directionindicated by the up arrow 202, or it may move down in the directionindicated by the down arrow 204. By moving in the direction indicated bythe up arrow 202, the moveable bottom 240 may be placed into the firstposition. By moving down in the direction indicated by the down arrow204, the moveable bottom 240 may be put into the second position. Forexample, one or more arms 415 may be brought to extend into the cavity236 through the window 264, as the tray 200 moves down over the arms415, in order to push on the moveable bottom 240 and thereby place themoveable bottom 240 into the first position whereby the front end 247may be coupled with the top portion 222. The one or more arms 415 mayretract out of the cavity 236 through the window 264 as the tray 200 israised over the arms 415 and allow the moveable bottom 240 to move inthe direction indicated by the down arrow 204 and thereby couple thefront end 247 with the bottom portion 224.

As mentioned, the moveable bottom 240 may couple with the tray body 210to form a continuous surface. In some embodiments, the front end 247 ofthe moveable bottom 240 may couple with the top portion 222 to form acontinuous surface that includes the moveable bottom 240 and the topedge 223. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2I and 2J, the top surface 242of the moveable bottom may form a continuous surface with the top edge223. The top edge 223 may include a top surface of the track 226. Byforming a continuous surface, and item 15 may easily slide in and out ofthe tray 200 along the moveable bottom 240 and the top edge 223. Forexample, in the first position, the front end 247 and the top edge 223may form a continuous surface such that the item 15 is not interruptedwhen sliding over the interface between the moveable bottom 240 and thetray body 210. As is discussed in further detail herein, for example,with respect to FIGS. 3-4B, this continuous surface may be augmented byparts of the loading system 10 and/or an unloading system 400.

FIG. 2K is a cross-section view of the tray 200 with the moveable bottom240 oriented in the second position. As shown, in the second positionthe center portion 255 of the moveable bottom 240 may rest on the bottomside 260 of the tray body 210. In some embodiments, the front end 247 ofthe moveable bottom 240 may be coupled with the bottom portion 224 ofthe tray body 210. In some embodiments, the front end 247 may be coupledwith the bottom portion 224 by having one or more slots 229 receive oneor more projections 282. In some embodiments, the moveable bottom 240 isallowed to fall into the second position by raising the tray 200 therebyremoving the arms 415 out of the window 264 of the tray 200. In someembodiments, the moveable bottom 240 may move between the first andsecond positions by sliding the projections 282 within the slots 229.For example, the moveable bottom 240 may be moved from the secondposition to the first position by pushing up on the moveable bottom 240such that the projections 282 slide in an upward direction within theslots 229, such as from the bottom portion 224 to the top portion 222.Similarly, the moveable bottom 240 may be moved from the first positionto the second position by sliding the projections 282 in a downwarddirection within the slots 229, such as from the top portion 222 to thebottom portion 224.

FIGS. 2L-2O are various views of a bracket 280 that may be used with thetray 200. FIG. 2L is a perspective view of the bracket 280, FIG. 2M is atop view of the bracket 280, FIG. 2N is a side view of the bracket 280,and FIG. 2O is an end view of the bracket 280.

Referring to FIGS. 2L-2O, the bracket 280 may include a bracket body281. The bracket body 281 may be an elongated, rigid structure. The body281 may be formed of various materials, including plastic, polymer,metal, other suitable materials and/or a combination thereof. The body281 may include various surfaces or surface features. As shown, thebracket body may include a top surface 283. The top surface 283 mayinclude the top side or sides of the bracket body 281. The top surface283 may be formed from the same or similar materials as the bracket body281. In some embodiments, the top surface 283 may include a surfacecoating and/or finish. The top surface 283 may have a generallyrectangular shape. However, the top surface 283 may have a variety ofshapes.

The bracket body 281 may include one or more end surfaces 286. The endsurfaces 286 may refer to portions of the bracket body 281 on variousends of the body 281. As shown, there may be a first end surface 286 ona first end of the bracket body 281, and there may be a second endsurface 286 on an opposite end of the bracket body 281. The end surfaces286 may be formed from the same or similar materials as the top surface283. The bracket body 281 may also include a front surface 288. Thefront surface 288 may be a surface of the bracket body 281 that is onthe front side. As shown, the front surface 288 may be an elongated sideof the bracket body 281 having a rectangular shape. The bracket body 281may include other surfaces, for instance, there may be a bottom surface(not shown) opposite the top surface 283. Further, the bracket body 281may include chamfers or beveled corners, for instance, at one or morecorners of the top surface 283 or other portions of the body 281.

The bracket 280 may include one or more projections 282. The projections282 may be elongated structures extending laterally from the bracketbody 281. As shown, the projection 282 may be an elongated cylindricalcomponent extending beyond the end surfaces 286. The projections 282 maybe formed from the same or similar materials as the bracket body 281.For instance, the projections 282 may be formed from plastic, polymer,metal, other suitable materials and/or combinations thereof. In someembodiments, the projections 282 are metallic rods. The projections 282may be solid or hollow or combinations thereof.

The projections 282 may have a circular profile, as shown in FIG. 2O.However, the projections 282 may have a different profile. For example,the projections 282 may have a profile that is partially circular andpartially noncircular. The projections 282 may have a profile thatincludes rounded and straight segments. Therefore, the projections 282may have a profile with a variety of different shapes.

The projections 282 may be integral parts of the bracket 280. Forinstance, the projections 282 may be integral with the bracket body 281.In some embodiments, the projections 282 are formed from the same pieceof material as the body 281, such that the projections 282 and the body281 are a single, monolithic part. In some embodiments, the projections282 may be separate parts from the body 281. For example, theprojections 282 may be attached or otherwise coupled with the body 281.The projections 282 may couple with the body 281 in a variety ofsuitable ways. For example, the projections 282 may screw into the body281. This is merely one example, and other coupling means may beimplemented, such as using fasteners, adhesive, other suitable means orcombinations thereof.

The bracket 280 may include one or more holes 284. The holes 284 mayextend through the bracket body 281 in a direction that is perpendicularto the plane of the top surface 283. As shown, there may be three holes284. In some embodiments, there may be more or fewer than three holes284. Further, the holes 284 may be spaced equal distances from eachother, or they may be located at unequal distances from each other. Theholes 284 may be threaded holes, through holes, or combinations thereof.The holes 284 may allow for the bracket 280 to be coupled with themoveable bottom 240. In some embodiments, the bracket 280 is coupledwith the moveable bottom 240 by use of fasteners. For example, fastenersmay be used to secure the bracket 280 to the moveable bottom 240 byinserting fasteners through the holes 284 in the bracket body 281 andthrough the holes 254 in the moveable bottom 240. This is merely oneexample of how the bracket 280 may be coupled with the moveable bottom240. Other suitable coupling means may be implemented.

The bracket 280 may allow for the moveable bottom 240 to be coupled withthe tray body 210. In some embodiments, the bracket 280 couples thefront end 247 of the moveable bottom 240 to the front side 221 of thetray body 210. In some embodiments, the front end 247 may be coupledwith the front side 221 by extending the projections 282 through theslots 229 of the tracks 226. In the first position, the front end 247 ofthe moveable bottom 240 may be coupled with the top portion 222 of thetray body 210 where the projections 282 extend through respective slots229 of the tracks 226 at upper portions of the tracks 226. This may bedone, for example, by pushing up on the moveable bottom through thewindow 264 of the tray body 210. In some embodiments, in the secondposition the front end 247 of the moveable bottom 240 may be coupledwith the bottom portion 224 of the tray body 210 with the projections282 extended through the slots 229 of the tracks 226 at lower portionsof the track 226. The bracket 280 may also couple the moveable bottom240 to the front side 221 in various positions other than the first andsecond positions. For example, the bracket 280 may couple the front end247 to the front side 221 such that the moveable bottom is in a positionthat is in between the first and second position.

In some embodiments, the bracket 280 may be integral with the moveablebottom 240. For example, the bracket 280 and the moveable bottom 240 maybe formed from the same piece of material such that the bracket 280 andthe moveable bottom 240 are a single, monolithic part. Therefore, themoveable bottom 240 may include the bracket body 281 and or theprojections 282. In some embodiments, the moveable bottom 240 includesprojections 282 coupled directly with the center portion 255 or otherportions of the moveable bottom 240. Therefore, many differentconfigurations are possible—the projections 282 may be indirectlycoupled with the moveable bottom 240, the projections 282 may beintegral with the moveable bottom 240, or other configurations may beimplemented. Thus the descriptions of one or more embodiments of thebracket 280 and the moveable bottom 240 are not meant to be limiting.

FIG. 2P is a top view of the moveable bottom 240. As mentioned, themoveable bottom may have a generally rectangular shape. As shown, thecenter portion 255 including the top surface 242 may be generallyrectangular. Other suitable shapes may be implemented. Further, the sideportions 244 may extend along the length of the moveable bottom 240 fromthe back edge 245 to the front edge 248. Further, the moveable bottom240 may include an end portion 246 that includes three differentsegments. The end portion 246 may include a longer center segment andtwo shorter outside segments. The various segments of the end portions246 may extend between one side portion 244 to the other side portion244.

The various outside edges of the moveable bottom 240 may define orotherwise form one or more notches. In some embodiments, the front edge248 may extend between the side portions 244 along an edge of the firstend 247. The front edge 248 may be generally straight with portions thatextend towards or into the center portion 255 to form or define one ormore front notches 250. As shown, the front edges extend toward thecenter portion 255 at two locations to form a generally rectangular orsquare front notch 250. The front notches 250 formed by the front edge248 may be located symmetrically with respect to two side portions 244.However, other shapes of the front notches 250 as well as locations maybe implemented. Similarly, the back edge 245 may define or otherwiseform one or more back notches 252. The back edge 245 may be generallystraight and extend into or towards the center portion 255 at variouslocations to form the one or more back notches 252. As shown, there maybe two back notches 252 formed by the back edge 245. The back notches252 may be generally rectangular or other shapes and may be located invarious positions.

The various notches of the moveable bottom 240 may allow the moveablebottom 240 to move along features of the tray body 210. In someembodiments, the front notches 250 formed by the front edge 248 allowthe front and 247 of the moveable bottom 240 to move over one or moretracks 226 of the tray body 210. In some embodiments, the back notches252 formed by the back edge 245 allow the back and 241 of the moveablebottom 240 to move over one or more protrusions 228. This is merely oneexample of how the one or more notches may facilitate movement of themoveable bottom 240. Other arrangements and configurations of thevarious notches and features of the tray 200 may be implemented.

FIGS. 2Q and 2R show several trays 200 assembled together in differentconfigurations. FIG. 2Q is a right side view of the several trays 200and FIG. 2R is a cross-section view of the several trays 200. Asmentioned, the trays 200 may be assembled in a variety of manners. Insome embodiments, the trays 200 may be nested together. As shown, thetwo top trays 200 as illustrated in FIGS. 2Q and 2R are nested together.In some embodiments, more than two trays may be nested together. Forexample, a third tray 200 may be nested with the top tray 200. Bynesting two or more trays 200 together, the several trays 200 may beassembled such that a lower tray 200 receives a portion of the uppertray 200. As shown, the uppermost tray 200 may be received by the middletray 200 as illustrated. In some embodiments, the bottom portion 224 ofthe top tray 200 may be received into the cavity 236 of the middle tray200. In some embodiments, when a first tray 200 is nested on top of asecond tray 200, the feet 272 of the first tray may be received withinthe pockets 274 of the second tray 200. In some embodiments, there arefour feet 272 coupled with the first tray 200 that are received by fourcorresponding pockets 274 of the second tray 200. The feet 272 of thefirst tray 200 may slide into the pockets 274 of the second tray 200such that the pads 273 of the feet 272 may rest on the nesting supports275 of the pockets 274.

The trays 200 may be brought into position to be nested together byrotating the first tray 200 with respect to the second tray 200. In someembodiments, the first tray 200 may be rotated 180° relative to thesecond tray 200. As shown, the nested trays 200 may be arranged suchthat the front side 221 of the first tray 200 is located opposite fromthe first side 221 of the second tray 200. As shown in FIGS. 2Q and 2R,the top two trays 200 are nested together such that the front side 221of the top tray 200 is on the left side as illustrated, while the frontside 221 of the middle tray 200 is on the right side. The trays 200 maybe rotated relative to each other in order to nest together due tobiasing of the feet 272 and/or the pockets 274. For example, by biasingthe feet towards the back side 230 and by biasing the pockets 274 towardthe front side 221, the trays 200 may be rotated 180° relative to eachother in order to nest together.

The trays 200 may also be stacked together. As shown in FIGS. 2Q and 2R,the bottom two trays 200 are stacked together. The trays 200 may bestacked together by receiving the feet 272 of a first tray 200 into therecesses 276 of a second tray 200. For example, as shown the feet 272 ofthe middle tray 200 may be received by the recesses 276 of the bottomtray 200. In some embodiments, the pads 273 of the feet 272 of a firsttray 200 are received by the recesses 276 of the second tray 200. Bystacking the trays 200, the cavity 236 of the bottom tray 200 may bemostly or completely unoccupied by the middle tray 200. That is, withthe first tray 200 stacked on top of the second tray 200, the first tray200 may not extend into the cavity 236 of the second tray 200. In someembodiments, the first tray 200 stacked on top of the second tray 200may extend only a small amount into the cavity 236 of the second tray200. In this manner, the stacked trays 200 may be transported togetherwhile one or both of them contain items 15. In some embodiments morethan two trays 200 may be stacked together such that three or more trayseach contain items 15 and may be transported together.

The trays 200 may be stacked by orienting the trays 200 in the samedirection. In some embodiments, the respective sides of two trays 200may be directly above or below each other in order to stack the trays200. For example, the front side 221 of the middle stacked tray 200 maybe directly above the front side 221 of the bottom stacked tray 200. Theother sides of the trays 200 may similarly align. Therefore, in someembodiments, the trays 200 may be stacked by not rotating them relativeto each other.

Stacking the trays 200 may take up more space as compared to nesting thetrays. By nesting the trays together, the trays 200 may be transportedtogether in a space-saving manner. Because a lower tray 200 may receivepart of an upper tray 200 when the trays are nested, less space is takenup by the several trays 200 as compared to the space taken up by thestacked trays 200. As shown in FIGS. 2Q and 2R, the vertical dimensionfor the nested trays 200 is smaller than the vertical dimension for thestacked trays 200, as indicated, respectively, by the arrow labeled“nest” and the arrow labeled “stack.” It is further noted that themiddle tray 200 as illustrated in FIGS. 2Q and 2R is nested with the toptray 200 and stacked with the bottom tray 200. Therefore, combinationsof the various assembled configurations, such as stacked and nested, maybe implemented with three or more trays 200.

The trays 200 may further have lateral stability in the nested and/orstacked configurations. In the nested configuration, the top nested tray200 may be prevented by the bottom nested tray 200 from moving laterallyor in a generally sideways direction. Similarly, in the stackedconfiguration, the top stacked tray 200 may be prevented by the bottomstacked tray 200 from moving laterally or in a generally sidewaysdirection. For instance, in the stacked configuration, the recesses 276of the bottom stacked tray 200 may receive the pads 273 or feet 272 ofthe top stacked tray 200 such that the recesses 276 prevent lateralmovement of the pads 273 and/or the feet 272. Similarly, in the nestedconfiguration, the sidewall 220 of the bottom nested tray 200 mayprevent lateral movement of the top nested tray 200 by preventing thesidewall 220 of the top nested tray body 210 from moving laterally. Insome embodiments, the top portion 222 of the sidewall 220 of the lowernested tray 200 may prevent lateral movement of the upper tray 200 bypreventing the bottom portion 224 of the sidewall 220 of the top nestedtray body 210 from moving laterally.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tray 200 supported on an embodimentof a carriage 300 and interfaced with an embodiment of a loading shelf54. As shown, the carriage 300 may support the tray 200 by receiving thetray 200 within, on or otherwise by a mounting frame 320. The mountingframe 320 may be a rigid structural component sized to receive thebottom portion 224 of the tray 200. The mounting frame 320 may be formedfrom a variety of materials, such as metal or other suitable materials.The mounting frame 320 may position the tray 200 so that the tray 200may receive items 15 from the loading shelves 54. The mounting frame 320may be supported by a support structure 310. The support structure 310may provide a rigid, structural component that positions the mountingframe 320. The support structure 310 may be formed from any rigidmaterial, such as metal or other suitable materials. The supportstructure 310 may be coupled with one or more wheels 302. As shown, thesupport structure 310 may be coupled with one wheel 302 that allows thecarriage 302 roll. In some embodiments, the carriage 300 may roll in adirection along the row 42 of bins 50.

The tray 200 may have the moveable bottom 240 oriented in this firstposition in order to receive items 15 therein. The moveable bottom 240may be oriented in the first position in a variety of ways. In someembodiments, the carriage 300 may include one or more arms 415 (notshown). The arms 415 may push up on the moveable bottom 240 through thewindow 264 of the bottom side 260 of the tray body 210 as the tray 200is lowered into the carriage 300. For example, the front end 247 of themoveable bottom 240 may be pushed up by the arms 415 as the tray 200 islowered over the arms 415 such that the front end 247 couples with thetop portion 222 of the front side 221 of the tray body 210. In someembodiments, the tray 200 may interface with the loading shelves 54 byangling the tray body 210 with respect to the loading shelves 54. Asshown, the tray body 210 is angled with respect to the plane of theloading shelves 54 such that in the first position the center portion255 of the moveable bottom 240 is generally in the same plane as theloading shelves 54. In some embodiments, the arms 415 may angle the traybody 210 and/or the moveable bottom 240 when loading an item 15.

In some embodiments, the tray 200 may couple directly to the loadingshelves 54. For example, the front edge 214 or other features of the topportion 222 of the tray 200 may butt directly up against the loadingshelves 54. This is merely one example of how the tray 200 may coupledirectly with the loading shelves 54. Other configurations are possible.

In some embodiments, the tray 200 may indirectly couple with the loadingshelves 54. For instance, the tray 200 may couple with the loadingshelves 54 by means of a channel 350. As shown, the channel 350 may bebetween the tray 200 and the loading shelf 54. In some embodiments, oneend of the channel 350 may couple to the top portion 222 of the traybody 210, and the opposite end of the channel 350 may couple with theloading shelf 54. The channel 350 may include a sliding surface 352. Thesliding surface 352 may be positioned in between the moveable bottom 240and the loading shelf 54 such that a continuous surface is formed by theloading shelf 54, the sliding surface 352 and the moveable bottom 240.For example, a continuous surface may be formed by the front end 247 ofthe moveable bottom 240, the sliding surface 352 of the channel 350 andthe loading shelf 54. In some embodiments, the front edge 214, or otherportions of the top edge 223 of the tray body 210, may also contributeto forming the continuous surface. Therefore, a continuous surfacebetween the moveable bottom 240 and the loading shelf 54 may be formedin a variety of ways and with a variety of components. By forming acontinuous surface, the items 15 may be easily slid or otherwise movedfrom the loading shelf 54 to the tray 200, and vice versa.

In some embodiments, the tray 200 may interface with the loading shelf54 by leaning against various features of the stacker 40. For example,the front edge 214 of the tray body 210 may lean against the channel 350or other features of the stacker 40. In some embodiments, the tray 200may lean against the edge support 56. For example, the handle 212 of thetray 200 may be received by the notch 58 formed by the edge support 56.By receiving the handle 212 within the notch 58 of the edge support 56,the tray 200 may be latterly stabilized such that it is prevented frommoving in a direction along the length of the row 42. Therefore, thetray 200 may be secured in front of one of the bins 50. To move the tray200 to another bin 50 within the same row 42, the tray 200 may bepulled, rotated or otherwise moved away from the edge support 56 androlled to the next bin 50 in the row 42. At the next bin 50, the tray200 may again be secured by another notch 58 formed by the edge support56 in front of that next bin 50.

The tray 200 may also move among the bins 50 by sliding along the rail60. In some embodiments, the tray body 210 may be coupled with the rail60 such that the tray 200 may slide along the length of the rail 60. Insome embodiments, the tray 200 may slide along the rail 60 as the tray200 is rolled in the carriage 300 using the wheel 302. In someembodiments, the channel 350 may be coupled with the rail 60 and tray200 such that the channel 350 may slide along the rail 60. The tray 200may then slide with the channel 350 as the channel 350 moves along therail 60. These are merely some examples of how the tray 200 may beinterfaced with and moved among bins 50 of the stacker 40. Othersuitable configurations may be implemented.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the interface between the carriage 300supporting the tray 200 and the loading surface 54. In some embodiments,the carriage 300 may include one or more latches 59. The latch 59 may bean elongated, structural member formed from a variety of rigidmaterials, such as metal, plastic, other suitable materials, orcombinations thereof. As shown, there may be a single latch 59. In someembodiments, there may be more than a single latch 59. The one or morelatches 59 may couple with the front portion of the carriage 300, suchas with the front of the mounting frame 320. In some embodiments, thelatch 59 may be a spring-loaded latch 59 that extends outward when thespring is in its natural state. When the carriage 300 is brought upagainst the edge support 56, the spring-loaded latch 59 may compresstowards the carriage 300 such that the spring has stored potentialenergy. In some embodiments, the latch 59 may be received by the notches58 in the edge support 56. For example, the latch 59 on the carriage 300may be freely extended outward until the carriage 300 is leaned upagainst the edge support 56, wherein the latch 59 is received into thenotch 58 in front of a respective bin 50. The notch 58 may stabilize thecarriage by receiving the latch 59. By receiving the latch 59, the notch58 may prevent movement of the carriage 300 along the rail 60 such thatthe tray 200 inside the carriage 300 is stabilized in front of the bin50 from which it is receiving items 15. With a spring-loaded latch 59,the latch 59 may push against the notch 58 to ensure that the latch 59and the notch 58 remain engaged when loading an item 15 into the tray200 from the loading surface 54 of the bin 50.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an embodiment of an unloading system400 for unloading items 15 from the tray 200. As shown, the unloadingsystem 400 may include various stations. In some embodiments, theunloading system 400 may include a first station 401, a second station402 and/or a third station 403. The first station 401 may include a traysupport 408. The tray support 408 may be a rigid, structural assemblycomposed of rigid, structural members configured to support the tray 200(not shown in FIG. 4A). As shown, the tray support 408 may includeseveral vertical members and several horizontal members that support alower tray mount 410. The lower tray mail mount 410 may be a planarstructure or surface on which a tray 200 may be placed. The lower traymount 410 may adjacent or otherwise near one or more side tray mounts412. In some embodiments, the lower tray mount 410 is located at agenerally right angle with the side tray mount 412. The lower tray mount410 and the side tray mount 412 may be formed from a variety of rigidmaterials, such as metals or other suitable materials. In someembodiments, the lower tray mount 410 may be angled with respect to ahorizontal direction, and the side tray mount 412 may be angled withrespect to a vertical direction. In this manner, the tray 200 may be seton top of the lower tray mount 410 and be forced by gravity toward theside tray mount 412. This may locate the tray 200 in position forunloading of the items 15.

The lower tray mount 410 may move. In some embodiments, the lower traymount 410 moves in a direction 8 perpendicular to the plane of itssurface. For instance, the lower tray mount 410 and the sidewall 412 maybe at right angles, in which case the lower tray mount 410 may moveparallel to the planar surface of the sidewall 412. The lower tray mount410 is shown in a lower position in FIG. 4A. However, the lower traymount 410 may be raised along the direction 8. In some embodiments, thelower tray mount 410 is coupled with a motor (not shown) that causes thelower tray mount 410 to move up and down. The tray 200 containing theitem 15 may be placed on top of the lower tray mount 410 when the lowertray mount 410 is in the raised position. Further details of the raisingand lowering of the lower tray mount 410 are discussed herein, forexample with respect to FIGS. 4C-4D.

The unloading system 400 may include one or more arms 415. The arms 415may be elongated, rigid platforms or other structures that are broughtto push on various components of the system 400 due to relative movementbetween the tray 200 and the arms 415. The arms 415 may be formed from avariety of rigid materials, such as metal or other suitable materials.The arms 415 may be entirely beneath the lower tray mount 410 and notcontacting the tray 200 when the lower tray mount 410 is in the raisedposition. In some embodiments, the arms 415 may contact portions of thetray 200 when the lower tray mount 410 is in the raised position Thearms 415 may extend through one or more openings 411 in the lower traymount 410 when the lower tray mount 410 is lowered to a lower position,as illustrated in the configuration shown in FIG. 4A. Therefore, thearms 415 may extend through the openings 411 in the lower tray mount410. In some embodiments, the arms 415 may include one or more bumpers416 on the ends of the arms 415. The bumpers 416 may be formed from arubber or other soft material. The bumper 416 may be fastened to the endof the arm 415 or attached in any suitable manner. The bumpers 416 mayprovide a contacting member that contacts various features of the system400, such as the tray 200. As discussed in further detail herein, thearms 415 may be stationary or may move, for example may move up and downalong the direction 8.

The unloading system 400 may include one or more unloading surfaces 418.The unloading surface 418 may be a generally planar structure formedfrom a variety of rigid materials, such as metal or other suitablematerials. The unloading surface 418 may provide a surface onto whichthe items 15 may be unloaded from the tray 200. The unloading surface418 may be angled with respect to the horizontal direction such that itis generally parallel to the plane of the lower tray mount 410. Theunloading surface 418 may be coupled with the tray support 408. In someembodiments, the unloading surface 418 may be coupled with otherfeatures of the unlading system 400, either in addition to or instead ofthe tray support 408.

The unloading system 400 may include various other components to assistwith unloading the items 15 from the tray 200. In some embodiments, theunloading system may include a first track 404 extending from the firststation 401 to the second station 402. The first track may be formedfrom a variety of rigid materials, such as metal or other suitablematerials. The first track may be coupled with one or more firstgrippers 405. As shown, there may be two first grippers coupled with thefirst track 404. The first grippers 405 may be movably coupled with thefirst track 404 such that the first grippers 405 may translate along thelength of the track 404 back-and-forth between the first station 401 andthe second station 402. The first gripper 405 may include one or morerigid, planar structures. The first gripper 405 may slide along thefirst track 404 to the first station 401 and extend away from the firsttrack 404 such that the gripper 405 may extend into the tray 200 locatedon the lower tray mount 410, where the first gripper 405 may then slidethe one or more items 15 out of the tray 200 and onto the unloadingsurface 418. The first gripper 405 may further slide the items 15 towardthe second station 402. The item 15 may then be slid or otherwise movedalong a second track 407 to the third station 403 for furtherprocessing.

FIG. 4B shows a portion of the unloading system 400 with a tray 200mounted thereto. As mentioned, the tray 200 may be placed onto the lowertray mount 410 and moved or allowed to move down against the side traymount 412. In some embodiments, the lower tray mount 410 is lowered suchthat the arms 415 are brought to extend through openings 411 of thelower tray mount 410 and push up against the tray body 210 and/ormoveable bottom 240, such that the tray body 210 is angled with respectto the horizon and the moveable bottom 240 is angled with respect to thetray body 210. Therefore, in some embodiments, the arms 415 may push orcontact the tray body 210 as well as the moveable bottom 240. As shownin FIG. 4B, the lower tray mount 410 has lowered along the direction 8such that the arms 415 extend through the lower tray mount 410 and arepushing up on the tray 200, such that the back side 230 of the tray body210 is in a position that is higher than the front side 221. Further,the arms 415 may extend through the window 264 of the bottom side 260(not shown), when the lower tray mount 410 is lowered, and thereby pushup against the moveable bottom 240. In this manner, the lower tray mount410 and the arms 415 working together may rotate or otherwise move themoveable bottom 240 relative to the tray body 210 such that the frontend 247 of the moveable bottom 240 is coupled with the top portion 222of the tray body 210, i.e. such that the moveable bottom 240 is in thefirst position.

In the first position, the moveable bottom 240 may be coupled with thetop portion 222 of the tray body 210 such that the moveable bottom 240forms a continuous surface with the unloading surface 418 of theunloading system 400. In some embodiments, the front end 247 may becoupled with the top portion 222 such that the center portion 255 of themoveable bottom 240 forms a continuous surface with the unloadingsurface 418. In some embodiments, this continuous surface may be furtheraugmented by other components of the system, such as the top edge 223,the front edge 214, top surfaces of the tracks 226, the top surface 242and/or other components or features. In some embodiments, in the firstposition the moveable bottom 240 and the unloading surface 408 may begenerally parallel with each other such that the continuous surface isgenerally flat. In this manner, one or more items 15 may be slid orotherwise easily moved from the moveable bottom 240 to the unloadingsurface 418. As shown, the item 15 has been slid out of the tray 200,over the unloading surface 418 and into the second station 402. The item15 may then be processed accordingly.

FIG. 4C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the unloadingsystem 400. As shown, the unloading system 400 may include the lowertray mount 410 having one or more openings 411 extending through themount 410. The lower tray mount 410 may include the one or more openings411 that extend through the thickness of the lower tray amount 410. Theopenings 411 may be slots in the lower tray mount 410 that provide apassageway through which the arms 415 may extend when the lower traymount 410 is lowered over the arms 415. As shown, the lower tray amount410 is in the raised position and the arms 415 are not yet extendingthrough the openings 411 of the mount 410. The openings 411 may have avariety of shapes and sizes. The lower tray mount 410 and/or the arms415 may be stationary or may move, for example may move up and downalong the direction 8.

The arms 415 may be rigid platforms configured to contact one or morefeatures of the tray 200. The arms 415 are shown as elongated structuralmembers configured to extend through complementary elongated openings411 in the lower tray mount 410. Therefore, the arms 415 may have avariety of shapes and sizes. The arms 415 may be coupled to a support413. The support 413 may be a structural component coupled with featuresof the unloading system 400. In some embodiments, the support 413 may becoupled with the tray support 408 (not shown). Further illustrated isthe tray 200 containing the item 15. The tray 200 is shown in a positionwhere it is not yet loaded onto the lower tray mount 410. The tray 200may be loaded onto the lower tray mount 410, and then the lower traymount 410 may be lowered with the tray 200 thereon.

FIG. 4D illustrates the lower tray mount 410 moved into the lowerposition. This may be, for example, movement along the direction 8. Asshown, the tray 200 is located on top of the lower tray mount 410. Thelower tray mount 410 is in the lowered position with the arms 415extending through the openings 411 in the lower tray mount 410. In thismanner, the arms 415 may contact various features of the tray 200. Bycontacting the tray 200, the arms 415 may angle the tray 200 and/or themovable bottom 240. As shown, the tray body 210 is angled with respectto the unloading surface 418, and the movable bottom 240 is angled withrespect to the tray body 210, such that the movable bottom 240 and theunloading surface 418 form a continuous surface, which may be planar orsubstantially planar. In this manner, the item 15 may be easily removedfrom the tray 200, for example by sliding the item 15 from the movablebottom 240 and onto the unloading surface 418.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are side cross-section views of the tray 200 and thearms 415 with the movable bottom 240 in the first and second positions.Referring to FIG. 5A, the movable bottom 240 is shown in the secondposition in the configuration on the left side of the figure asillustrated. In the second position, the arm 415 has not moved themovable bottom 240 with respect to the tray body 210. As shown on theright side of FIG. 5A, the movable bottom 240 is in the first position.As shown, the lower tray mount 410 has been lowered over the arms 415such that the arms 415 extend through the window 264 of the tray 200 andcontact the movable bottom 240. In some embodiments, the lower traymount 410 is lowered such that the arms 415 contact the center portion255 of the moveable bottom 240. In this manner, the movable bottom 240is made to rotate such that it is now at an angle with respect to thetray body 210 as shown. Thus, a first motion to achieve the first andsecond positions may consist of rotating or otherwise moving themoveable bottom 240 while the tray body 210 remains stationary.

FIG. 5B depicts the tray 200 in a horizontal orientation on the leftside of the figure as illustrated. As shown, the tray body 210 issupported by the lower tray mount 410. Further, the arm 415 has notmoved the movable bottom 240 with respect to the tray body 210. In thesecond position, shown on the right side of FIG. 5B as illustrated, thelower tray mount 410 has been lowered over the arms 415 such that thearms 415 are extending through the lower tray mount 410 and arecontacting the moveable bottom 240. In this manner, the movable bottom240 is horizontal while the tray body 210 is angled with respect to thehorizon. Therefore, the tray body 210 has rotated such that it is at anangle with respect to the horizon and with respect to the movable bottom240. As such, the movable bottom 240 is now in the first position. Thus,a second motion to achieve the first and second positions may consist ofrotating or otherwise moving the tray body 210 while the moveable bottom240 remains stationary. In some embodiments, combinations of the firstand second motions, shown respectively in FIGS. 5A and 5B, may beimplemented to load and unload items 15 into and out of the tray 200.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 600 for loading oneor more items into a tray. The method 600 may include loading one ormore items 15 into the tray 200 from the loading system 10.

The method 600 begins at block 610 wherein an item is placed on aloading shelf. For example, the item 15 may be placed on the loadingshelf 54 of the stacker 40. The item 15 may also be placed various otherstructures from which the item will be moved into the tray. The item maybe placed onto the loading shelf manually, for example by a workercarrying the item to the shelf. The item may also be placedautomatically, for example by a sorting system sorting and then thedistributing the item to the shelf. In some embodiments, the sorter 30sorts the items 15 and then distributes them to an appropriate loadingshelf 54.

The method 600 next moves to block 620 wherein the tray is positioned atan angle with respect to the loading shelf. This may include positioningthe sidewall 220 or tray body 210 at an angle with respect to a planethat includes a top surface of the loading shelf 54. In someembodiments, the tray may be mounted on a supporting structure, such asthe mounting frame 320 of the carriage 300, and angled thereon. The traymay be angled on the supporting structure by various components, such asby the arms 415 as described above. The arms 415 or other structures mayextend upward as the tray is lowered and thereby contact the traystructure, such as the tray body 210, to angle the tray. The supportingstructure may further transport the tray, for example by rolling on thewheel 302 of the support structure 310. The supporting structure maytransport the tray to bring it within the vicinity of a loadingapparatus, such as the loading system 10.

The method 600 next moves to block 630 wherein a moveable bottom of thetray is moved to a first position such that the moveable bottom forms acontinuous surface with portions of the loading shelf. The firstposition may be a position that is the same or similar as the firstposition described above, for example with respect to FIGS. 2A-2B and2G-2J. Block 630 may include, for example, moving the moveable bottom240 of the tray 200 to form a generally planar surface between themoveable bottom 240 and the loading shelf 54. The moveable bottom may bemoved by a variety of components. In some embodiments, the arms 415 mayextend upward from the carriage 300 through the window 264 of the tray200 as the tray 200 is lowered over the arms 415. The arms 415 maycontact the front end 247 of the moveable bottom 240 and move the frontend 247 upward such that the front end 247 couples with the top portion222 of the tray body 210. The front end 247 may couple with the topportion 222 in a variety of ways as discussed herein, for example withrespect to FIGS. 2I-2J. The moveable bottom may move in block 630 over avariety of paths. In some embodiments, the moveable bottom is rotated.For instance, the front end 247 may move up while the back end 241 moveshorizontally toward the front side 221 but does not move vertically,such that moveable bottom 240 essentially rotates about an axis definedby the back edge 245 of the back end 241. In some embodiments of block630, the arms 415 may move the moveable bottom and/or the tray body 210,as described above, for example with respect to FIGS. 5A-5B.

Block 630 may therefore include action where the front end 247 forms acontinuous surface with the loading shelf 54. In some embodiments, thecontinuous surface is further formed in block 630 by other features ofthe tray 200, such as by the top edge 223, the front edge 214, an uppersurface of the track 226 and/or other features. In some embodiments, thecontinuous surface is further formed by other features of the loadingsystem 10, such as the channel 350, the sliding surface 352, and/orother features. Further, block 630 may include forming anothercontinuous surface with other loading shelves 54. For instance, block630 may include rolling the tray 200 in the carriage 300 and sliding thetray 200 along the rail 60 in front of the bin 50. It may furtherinclude securing the tray 200 to a notch 58 in the edge support 56 thatis in front of the bin 50.

The method 600 next moves to block 640 wherein the item is moved alongthe continuous surface from the loading shelf and onto the moveablebottom. This may include, for example, moving the item 15 along thecontinuous surface formed by the loading shelf 54 and the moveablebottom 240. In some embodiments, the item may be moved along thecontinuous surface as formed by these and other components of the tray200 and/or loading system 10. The item may be moved in a variety ofways. The item may slide along the continuous surface. It may also berolled, tossed, pitched, ejected, emitted, moved in other ways, and/orcombinations thereof. The item may be moved manually, for example by aperson. The item may also be moved automatically, for example by an armof the loading system. In some embodiments, the item 15 is slid alongthe continuous surface from the loading shelf 54 and onto the moveablebottom 240. The item 15 may be slid from the loading shelf 54 and ontothe front end 247 and/or the center portion 255 of the moveable bottom240. In some embodiments, the item 15 may also be slid onto the top edge223, the front edge 214, an upper surface of the track 226 and/or otherfeatures of the tray body 210. In some embodiments, the item 15 may alsobe slid along the channel 350, the sliding surface 352, and/or otherfeatures of the loading system 10.

The method 600 next moves to block 650 wherein the moveable bottom ismoved to a second position inside the tray such that the moveable bottomis adjacent to a bottom side of the tray. The second position may be aposition that is the same or similar as the second position describedabove, for example with respect to FIGS. 2C and 2K. The moveable bottommay be moved to the second position in block 650 by a variety ofcomponents. In some embodiments, the tray 200 may be raised such thatthe arms 415 are removed from the tray cavity 236 through the window 264of the tray 200. The arms 415 may be contacting the front end 247 of themoveable bottom 240 as the tray 200 is raised, thereby controllablyallowing the front end 247 to fall downward inside the tray 200 suchthat the front end 247 couples with the bottom portion 224 of the traybody 210. The front end 247 may couple with the bottom portion 224 in avariety of ways as discussed herein, for example with respect to FIG.2K. The moveable bottom may move in block 650 over a variety of paths.In some embodiments, the moveable bottom is rotated. For instance, thefront end 247 may move down while the back end 241 moves horizontallyback the back side 230 but does not move vertically, such that moveablebottom 240 essentially rotates about an axis defined by the back edge245 of the back end 241. In some embodiments of block 650, the arms 415may move the moveable bottom and/or the tray body 210, as describedabove, for example with respect to FIGS. 5A-5B.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method 700 for unloading oneor more items from a tray. The method 700 may include unloading one ormore items 15 from the tray 200 from the unloading system 400.

The method 700 begins at block 710 wherein the tray is positioned at anangle with respect to an unloading surface. Block 710 may includebringing the tray to the unloading surface. The tray may be manuallybrought to the unloading system 400, for example by rolling the tray 200in the carriage 300 to the unloading system 400. The tray may beautomatically brought to the unloading system 400, for example by aconveyor belt.

In some embodiments, in block 710 the sidewall 220 of the tray 200 maybe positioned at an angle with respect to the unloading surface 418 ofthe unloading system 400. For example, the tray 200 may be placed on thelower tray mount 410 and/or the side tray mount 412, where variouscomponents may move the tray body 210 to angle the tray 200. In someembodiments, the tray may be lowered of one or more arms 415 such thatthe one or more arms 415 extend through the window 264 and contact oneor more parts of the tray body 210, such as the bottom side 260 and/orthe back side 230. In this manner, the arms 415 may cause the back side230 of the tray body 210 to move upward with respect to the front side221, thereby angling the tray body 210.

The method 700 next moves to block 720 wherein the moveable bottom ismoved to a first position such that the moveable bottom and theunloading surface form a second continuous surface. The first positionmay be a position that is the same or similar as the first positiondescribed above, for example with respect to FIGS. 2A-2B and 2G-2J.Block 720 may be similar to block 630 of method 600. Block 720 mayinclude, for example, moving the moveable bottom 240 of the tray 200 toform a generally planar surface between the moveable bottom 240 and theunloading surface 418. The moveable bottom may be moved by a variety ofcomponents. In some embodiments, the tray 200 may be lowered over one ormore arms 415 such that the arms 415 extend upward from the lower traymount 410 and through the window 264 of the tray 200. The arms 415 maycontact the front end 247 of the moveable bottom 240 and move the frontend 247 upward such that the front end 247 couples with the top portion222 of the tray body 210. The front end 247 may couple with the topportion 222 in a variety of ways as discussed herein, for example withrespect to FIGS. 2I-2J. The moveable bottom may move in block 720 over avariety of paths similar to those described above with respect to block630 of method 600.

Block 720 may therefore include forming a continuous surface with thefront end 247 and the unloading surface 418. In some embodiments, thecontinuous surface is further formed by other features of the unloadingsystem 400. In some embodiments, the continuous surface is furtherformed in block 720 by other features of the tray 200, such as by thetop edge 223, the front edge 214, an upper surface of the track 226and/or other features.

The method 700 then moves to block 730 wherein the item is moved alongthe second continuous surface from the moveable bottom and onto theunloading surface. This may include, for example, moving the item 15along the second continuous surface formed by the moveable bottom 240and the unloading surface 418. In some embodiments, the item may bemoved along the second continuous surface as formed by these and othercomponents of the tray 200 and/or unloading system 400.

The item may be moved in block 730 in a variety of ways. The item mayslide along the second continuous surface. It may also be rolled,tossed, pitched, ejected, emitted, moved in other ways, and/orcombinations thereof. The item may be moved manually, for example by aperson. The item may also be moved automatically, for example by thefirst gripper 405 of the unloading system 400. In some embodiments, theitem 15 is slid along the second continuous surface from the moveablebottom 240 and onto the unloading surface 418. The item 15 may be slidfrom the front end 247 and/or the center portion 255 of the moveablebottom 240 and onto the unloading surface 418. In some embodiments, theitem 15 may also be slid from the top edge 223, the front edge 214, anupper surface of the track 226 and/or other features of the tray body210. In some embodiments, the item 15 may also be slid from the moveablebottom 240 and onto other features of the unloading system 400, such asthe third station 403.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views of another embodiment of a tray200, having another embodiment of a moveable bottom 240, that may beused with the stacker of FIGS. 1A-1B as well as used with the loadingand unloading systems described herein. The tray 200 in FIG. 8A is shownwith the moveable bottom in the first position while tray 200 is shownin FIG. 8B with the moveable bottom in the second position. The tray 200shown in and described with respect to FIGS. 8A and 8B may have the sameor similar features as other trays described herein, for example thoseshown in and described with respect to FIGS. 2A-2R, except whereotherwise noted.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the tray 200 may include a body 210 with asidewall 220 having an upper portion 222 and lower portion 224. Theupper portion 222 may define one or more handles 212 at a front side 221and a back side 230 of the tray 200. The handle 212 may extend along theentire length of the front and back sides 221, 230. The handle 212 mayextend from a left side 232 of the tray 200 to a right side 234 of thetray 200 along the front and back sides 221, 230. An elongated handle212 may facilitate interaction with other machine components, forexample robotic arms or track. In some embodiments, a robotic arm may bereceived underneath the elongated handles 212 to facilitate moving orotherwise handling the tray 200. Such handling may be performed in anautomated context. Thus, a component of a robot arm or other similarfeature can advantageously interact with the elongated handle 212 tolift or handle the tray. The elongated handle 212 may also assist withhandling by humans, for example by providing a larger surface area for ahuman hand or hands to grab.

The tray body 210 may further include one or more feet 272. The feet 272may be elongated protrusions extending laterally outward from one ormore sides of the sidewall 220. The feet 272 may be elongated,rectangular protrusions extending outward from the right side 234 andfrom the left side 232. The feet 272 along with pockets 274 and recesses276 may allow for, respectively, nesting and stacking multiple trays 200on top of each other. To nest, the feet 272 of a top tray 200 may bereceived into the pockets 274 of a lower tray 200. The pockets 274 maythus be complementary elongated openings along the inside of thesidewall 210 as shown. To stack, the feet 272 of a top tray 200 may bereceived into the recesses 276 of a lower tray 200. The recesses 276 maythus be complementary shallow openings along the top edge of thesidewall 210 as shown. As described in further detail herein, the trays200 may be rotated relative to each other about a vertical axisdepending on whether nesting or stacking of trays 200 is desired.

The tray 200 may further include one or more protrusions 228. As shown,the protrusion 228 may be elongated vertically and extend up from thebottom side 260. The protrusion may be located along the inside of thebottom portion 224 of the sidewall 220. There may me be multipleprotrusions 228, although only one is visible.

The tray 200 may include a moveable bottom 240. The moveable bottom 240may have the same or similar features as other moveable bottomsdescribed herein. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the moveable bottom 240may include a center portion 255 having one or more side portions 244extending along the length of the sides of the center portion 255. Themoveable bottom 240 may have one or more end portions 246. The endportions 246 may be coupled to the center portion 255. The end portions246 may be coupled to the center portion 255 at a back end 241 of themoveable bottom 240.

The end portions 246 may form a “comb-” or “finger-like” configuration.The end portions 246 may be elongated and extend upward or otherwisegenerally away from the back end 241 of the moveable bottom 240. The endportions 246 may be spaced such that the end portions 246 define one ormore spaces 249. The spaces 249 may be between the end portions 246. Thespaces 249 may also be on the ends or outsides of the outermost endportions 246. For instance, a space 249 may be defined generally betweenan end portion 246 and the adjacent side portion 244. In someembodiments, there may be four end portions 246 and five correspondingspaces 249. In other embodiments, there may be more or fewer than fourend portions 246 and more or fewer than five corresponding spaces 249.

The end portions 246 and corresponding spaces 249 may facilitatemovement of items into and out of the trays 200. In some embodiments, anitem may be slid onto or off of a top surface 242 of the moveable bottom240 in the first position shown in FIG. 8A. In some embodiments, arobotic arm may move the item as described. For example, a robotic armmay be inserted into the tray 200 in between the back side 230 and theend portions 246 of the moveable bottom 240. The arm may have acomplementary “comb” or “finger” configuration that allows the arm toextend into the spaces 249 and thereby contact an item in the tray. Inthis manner, the arm could push the item along the moveable bottom 240and out of the tray. To allow the arm to be inserted in between the endportions 246 and the back side 230 of the tray 200, the moveable bottom240 may be shortened. In some embodiments, the moveable bottom 240 mayhave a length that is relatively shorter than the distance between thefront and back sides 221, 230 of the tray body 210. Therefore, even whenthe moveable bottom is rotated into the first position shown in FIG. 8A,there is still a space created in between the end portions 246 and theinside of the back side 230 that will allow a robotic arm to be insertedas described and remove an item from the tray 200. The end portions 246may also create this space by contacting the front surface 288 that islocated on the inside of the back side 230 of the tray 200. As shown,one of the end portions 246 may contact the front surface 288, thuspreventing the moveable bottom 240 from moving further toward the backwall 230 and thus leaving a space in between the moveable bottom 240 andthe back wall 240. In some embodiments, there may be two front surfaces288 that contact two corresponding end portions 246. There may also bemore or fewer than two front surfaces 288 and corresponding end portions246.

The moveable bottom 240 may also include one or more spacer tabs 256. Insome embodiments, the moveable bottom 240 may include three spacer tabs256 (more clearly seen in FIG. 8C). The moveable bottom 240 may includemore or fewer than three space tabs 256. The spacer tabs 256 may beprojections extending from the moveable bottom 240. The spacer tabs 256may project or extend in a rearward direction from the movable bottom240. The space tabs 256 may be coupled with the center portion 255. Thespacer tabs 256 may be coupled with the back end 241. Thus, in someembodiments, there may be three space tabs 256 coupled with andprojecting rearward from the back end 241 of the moveable bottom 240.The spacer tabs 256 may have the same or similar thickness as the centerportion 255. The spacer tabs 256 may be generally rectangular or squareand/or have rounded corners. A variety of other suitable shapes andconfigurations may be implemented. The spacer tabs 256 may be rigid orgenerally rigid. The spacer tabs 256 may be formed from the samematerial as other portions of the moveable tray 240, for example thecenter portion 255. In some embodiments, the spacer tabs 256 may bemonolithic with the center portion 255. The spacer tabs 256 may thus beextensions of the center portion 255. In some embodiments, the spacertabs 256 may be separate components that are attached to or otherwisecoupled with the remainder of the moveable bottom 240, for example withfasteners, adhesive, or other suitable means. In some embodiments, thespacer tabs 256 may be formed from generally non-rigid material. Thespacer tabs 256 may be flexible. The spacer tabs 256 may includemultiple materials. For example, the spacer tabs 256 may include a rigidor generally rigid extension having a softer or otherwise less rigidendcap, such as a rubber fitting or component. The spacer tabs 256 maythus have a variety of shapes, configurations, materials and assemblies,and those mentioned and described are merely some examples.

The spacer tabs 256 may assist with providing a spacing behind themoveable bottom 240. As discussed, this spacing may facilitate insertionof an arm, such as a robotic arm, that sweeps or otherwise moves theitem out of the tray 200. The spacing may thus be created using at leastin part the spacer tabs 256. In some embodiments, the spacer tabs 256prevent the moveable bottom 240 from moving beyond a specified locationtoward the back side 230 of the tray 200. In some embodiments, thespacer tabs 256 will contact the inside of the back side 230 and thusprevent the moveable bottom 240 from moving beyond a specified locationtoward the back side 230 of the tray 200. In some embodiments, thespacer tabs 256 may contact the back side 230 when the moveable bottom240 is in the second position, as described herein. In some embodiments,outer edges of the spacer tabs 256 may contact the back side 230 whenthe moveable bottom 240 is in the second position, as described herein.In some embodiments, the spacer tabs 256 may not contact the back side230 when the moveable bottom 240 is in the first position, as describedherein.

FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the moveable bottom 240 from FIGS. 8Aand 8B shown in isolation without the tray body 210 or other features ofthe tray 200. As shown, there may be two side portions 244 extendingalong two opposite sides of the center portion 255. The side portions244 may extend toward the back end 241 of the tray 200 and bend or turninward, as shown. Thus, there may be a rear section of the side portions244 that are angled with respect to the side sections of the sideportions 244. These rearward sections of the side portions 244 alongwith corresponding adjacent end portions 246 may define the outermostspaces 249. As further shown, there may be four end portions 246 andfive corresponding spaces 249. As discussed above, an arm or tool with acomplementary shape may extend through the spaces 249 to slide orotherwise move an item off of the center portion 255. As further shown,there may be three spacer tabs 256. There may be a first spacer tab 256located between a first side portion 244 and a first correspondingadjacent end portion 246, a second spacer tab 256 located between twocenter end portions 246, and/or a third spacer tab 256 located between asecond side portion 244 opposite the first end portion 244 and a secondcorresponding adjacent end portion 246.

The flow chart sequences are illustrative only. A person of skill in theart will understand that the steps, decisions, and processes embodied inthe flowcharts described herein may be performed in an order other thanthat described herein. Thus, the particular flowcharts and descriptionsare not intended to limit the associated processes to being performed inthe specific order described.

While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointedout novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments,it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changesin the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention. As will be recognized, the present invention may be embodiedwithin a form that does not provide all of the features and benefits setforth herein, as some features may be used or practiced separately fromothers. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claimsrather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come withinthe meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embracedwithin their scope.

The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the systems,devices, and methods disclosed herein. It will be appreciated, however,that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the systems,devices, and methods may be practiced in many ways. As is also statedabove, it should be noted that the use of particular terminology whendescribing certain features or aspects of the invention should not betaken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to berestricted to including any specific characteristics of the features oraspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof the described technology. Such modifications and changes are intendedto fall within the scope of the embodiments. It will also be appreciatedby those of skill in the art that parts included in one embodiment areinterchangeable with other embodiments; one or more parts from adepicted embodiment may be included with other depicted embodiments inany combination. For example, any of the various components describedherein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged orexcluded from other embodiments.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art may translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety. To the extent publications and patents or patentapplications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosurecontained in the specification, the specification is intended tosupersede and/or take precedence over any such contradictory material.

The term “comprising” as used herein is synonymous with “including,”“containing,” or “characterized by,” and is inclusive or open-ended anddoes not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

All numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions,and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understoodas being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly,unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth inthe specification and attached claims are approximations that may varydepending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by thepresent invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit theapplication of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims,each numerical parameter should be construed in light of the number ofsignificant digits and ordinary rounding approaches.

The above description discloses several methods and materials of thepresent invention. This invention is susceptible to modifications in themethods and materials, as well as alterations in the fabrication methodsand equipment. Such modifications will become apparent to those skilledin the art from a consideration of this disclosure or practice of theinvention disclosed herein. Consequently, it is not intended that thisinvention be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, butthat it cover all modifications and alternatives coming within the truescope and spirit of the invention as embodied in the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for loading a tray comprising:positioning an item on a loading shelf; positioning a sidewall of thetray at an angle with respect to the loading shelf; moving a moveablebottom of the tray to a first position such that the moveable bottom andthe loading shelf form a continuous surface; sliding the item along thecontinuous surface from the loading shelf and onto the moveable bottom;moving the moveable bottom to a second position inside a cavity definedby a sidewall of the tray such that the moveable bottom is adjacent to abottom side of the tray; positioning a sidewall of the tray at an anglewith respect to an unloading surface; moving the moveable bottom to thefirst position such that the moveable bottom and the unloading surfaceform a second continuous surface; and sliding the item along the secondcontinuous surface from the moveable bottom and onto the unloadingsurface.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning acarriage proximate the loading shelf.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising positioning the tray on the carriage.
 4. The method of claim3, further comprising connecting the carriage to the loading shelf. 5.The method of claim 4, wherein connecting the carriage to the loadingshelf comprises connecting the carriage to a rail extending along anedge of the loading shelf.
 6. The method of claim 2, further comprisingpositioning an unloading shelf between the loading shelf and the tray,the unloading shelf connected to the carriage between the loading shelfand the tray and forming a part of the continuous surface.
 7. The methodof claim 2, wherein moving the moveable bottom to the first positioncomprises lowering the tray on the carriage and contacting the moveablebottom with an arm connected to the carriage, such that the arm movesthe moveable bottom to the first position.
 8. The method of claim 2,wherein moving the moveable bottom to the first position comprisesmoving an arm connected to the carriage upward to push a portion of themoveable bottom to the first position.
 9. The method of claim 4, furthercomprising moving the carriage along the rail to a position proximate asecond loading shelf.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprisingremoving the tray into which the item from the loading shelf has beenloaded, and positioning a second tray on the carriage.
 11. The method ofclaim 9, wherein moving the carriage along the rail comprisesautomatically moving the carriage along the rail.
 12. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the item slides along the loading shelf in response toan automatic sweeper arm moving the item.
 13. A method for loading atray comprising: positioning an item on a loading shelf; positioning acarriage proximate the loading shelf, the carriage having a traythereon; positioning an unloading shelf between the loading shelf andthe tray, the unloading shelf connected to the carriage between theloading shelf and the tray and forming a part of the continuous surfacepositioning a sidewall of the tray at an angle with respect to theloading shelf; moving a moveable bottom of the tray to a first positionsuch that the moveable bottom and the loading shelf form a continuoussurface; sliding the item along the continuous surface from the loadingshelf and onto the moveable bottom; and moving the moveable bottom to asecond position inside a cavity defined by a sidewall of the tray suchthat the moveable bottom is adjacent to a bottom side of the tray. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein moving the moveable bottom to the firstposition comprises lowering the tray on the carriage and contacting themoveable bottom with an arm connected to the carriage, such that the armmoves the moveable bottom to the first position.
 15. The method of claim14, wherein moving the moveable bottom to the first position comprisesmoving an arm connected to the carriage upward to push a portion of themoveable bottom to the first position.